TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Strategic Rail Authority

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the contracts of employment of the Chairman, Chief Executive and Board members of the Strategic Rail Authority are due to expire.

John Spellar: The appointments are due to expire as follows:
	
		
			  Expiry date 
		
		
			 Sir Alastair Morton (Chairman) 31 March 2002 
			 Mike Grant (Chief Executive) 30 April 2004 
			 Lew Adams 31 October 2001 
			 Professor Begg 31 March 2002 
			 Willie Gallagher 30 April 2002 
			 David Grayson 30 April 2002 
			 Ann Hemingway 30 April 2002 
			 David Jeffries 31 October 2001 
			 Pen Kent 31 October 2001 
			 Jeremy Mayhew 30 April 2002 
			 David Quarmby 31 October 2001 
			 Janet Runin 30 April 2002 
			 Kevin Small 30 April 2002 
		
	
	Sir Alastair Morton has agreed that he will step down as soon as a new Chairman is appointed. The process for appointing his successor has already begun, and an appointment will be made as quickly as possible within the rules for public appointments of this kind.
	The appointments of Lew Adams and David Quarmby were originally due to expire on 30 June 2001, and those of David Jeffries and Pen Kent on 31 July 2001. All have accepted short extensions to their appointments to 31 October 2001.

Strategic Rail Authority

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects the Strategic Rail Authority to publish its Strategic Plan.

John Spellar: The draft Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) issued for consultation by the Secretary of State on 29 June would require the SRA to publish a first overall strategy in November 2001.

Air Traffic Controllers

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many air traffic controllers are at present in training; how many controllers are needed to initiate the new NERC Centre at Southampton; and when he expects to receive details of training schemes proposed by the new private partners of NATS.

John Spellar: 370 student air traffic controllers are currently undergoing training at NATS College of Air Traffic Control, or at operational units. In addition, around 50 controllers are being trained on the new Swanwick systems at any one time.
	365 controllers will be needed to bring NERC into operation next January.
	The Strategic Partnership Agreement for the NATS PPP requires the key shareholders to agree a business plan within four months of the start of the PPP. This will include a training strategy.

Rail Franchises

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to announce (a) the completion of contract negotiations for the new (i) Chiltern, (ii) South Central and (iii) South West Trains rail franchises and (b) the preferred bidders for the East Coast Main Line and Transpennine franchises.

John Spellar: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) will conclude negotiations and sign franchise agreements with the preferred counterparties for the new Chiltern, South Central and South West Trains rail franchises as soon as it can resolve all outstanding issues.
	Announcements will be made on the East Coast Main Line and Transpennine franchises as soon as possible.

Freight

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of freight went by (a) road and (b) rail in May (i) 1993, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2001.

Stephen Byers: The figures are not available in the form requested.

Heathrow

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with British Airways concerning plans for a runway to be built along the northern perimeter of Heathrow airport.

David Jamieson: As the then Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin), made clear on 6 June 2000, Official Report, columns 203–04W, it is premature to comment on what options are being considered in the South East and East of England Regional Air Services (SERAS) study. Following completion of the study there will be a public consultation on the options arising from it.
	During the course of the study we have had discussions with, and representations from, a wide range of organisations, including British Airways, about new runways in the south east of England.

Best Value

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will state the estimated cost of the administration of Best Value in the fire service in the last financial year;
	(2)  how much public money has been allocated for administrative costs associated with Best Value in the fire service in the forthcoming year.

Nick Raynsford: Fire total standard spending was increased by 3.5 per cent. to £1,463 million for 2001–02. The settlements took account of information on spending pressures provided by the local authorities Fire Service Expenditure Forecasting Group. Best Value administration was not identified as a separate significant pressure in the group's most recent report. Information on overall costs for the fire service is not held centrally. The scale of costs is likely to be different for county fire authorities compared with single-service fire authorities, like East Sussex, which are Best Value authorities in their own right. Additional items of expenditure for single-service fire authorities include publication of Best Value performance plans and distribution of summary plans to local households.

Mobile Phone Masts

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the review of planning policy for mobile phone masts.

Sally Keeble: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison) on 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 20W.

Energy Efficiency

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will require tailored energy efficiency advice to be provided to people buying a new home.

Alan Whitehead: Under the Building Regulations, builders are required to calculate the energy rating of a new home and to place a notice of the energy rating there. In addition, we are proposing to make it a new requirement of the Building Regulations that builders should provide occupiers of new homes with information on operation and maintenance of the heating and hot water services in ways that would help to optimise energy consumption.

Cycling

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to require local authorities to produce cycling strategies.

John Spellar: All local highway authorities in England (excluding London) were asked to produce a cycling strategy as part of their local transport plans (LTPs) last year. This should identify gaps in the local network and potential improvements to the cycling infrastructure. Almost all authorities subsequently included strategies for cycling as part of their LTP submissions. Initial monitoring suggests that the strategies will result in considerable additional provision for cycling. The London boroughs will be expected to implement the policies for cycling contained in the Mayor's Transport Strategy, which is due for publication in the summer.

Cycling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how the Government plan to take forward their cycling strategy.

John Spellar: holding answer 3 July 2001
	The Government are committed to quadrupling the number of cycling trips, from a 1996 base, by 2012, and in the 10-Year Transport Plan, we have set an interim target of tripling the number of cycling trips between 2000 and 2010. The local transport settlement provided £8.4 billion of Government funding which will help to promote sustainable transport measures, including cycling. The cycling strategies in local authorities' local transport plans will provide opportunities to improve the cycling infrastructure and make cycling more accessible.
	Action is being taken to effectively market the key messages of the National Cycling Strategy (NCS). An NCS website has been launched and a promotional video has been produced. A series of cycling seminars has just been concluded across England, which provided a good opportunity for local authorities, major employers and health and education practitioners to come together.
	We are also re-organising the way the National Cycle Forum, which co-ordinates progress on the NCS, works. The current Forum will be reconstituted, meeting annually to review progress on delivering the NCS, and to set the policy agenda for the year ahead. An executive board is to be established with the task of securing NCS objectives and developing broad policies established by the NCF. The NCS Board will be 8–10 people strong. We have advertised for a Chairperson, and are considering the applications at present.

Single Regeneration Budget

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what monitoring system his Department has in place to ensure that single regeneration budget programmes are delivered in line with the objectives set in the original bids; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: My Department's monitoring system requires Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Partnerships to set out the objectives of their bids in annual Delivery Plans. The Regional Development Offices (RDAs) monitor Partnerships' progress in delivering their schemes, normally each quarter, against Key Indicators of Performance which are recorded in Delivery Plans. The RDAs also undertake periodic reviews of SRB Schemes to assess overall progress.
	In their recent Corporate/Business Plans, RDAs set out regional priorities and activities and key outputs for the SRB in 2001–02. They will report on achievements in their 2002–03 Plans.

Informal Public Spaces

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his policy is towards land used as informal open public space being developed for housing purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The Government's policy is set out in the draft revision of Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 17—Sport, Open Space, and Recreation. This makes it clear that existing open space should not be developed for housing or other forms of built development in urban areas, unless the planning authority's assessments undertaken in accordance with guidance in PPG17 shows the land to be clearly surplus to requirements.

Surplus Farmland

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the hectarage of farmland which is surplus to agricultural requirements but cannot be used for any alternative purpose due to (a) local plans and (b) greenbelt zoning.

Sally Keeble: Consideration of whether to grant planning permission for the alternative use of agricultural land is a matter in the first instance for local planning authorities taking into account their development plan policies and national guidance. National planning policy for the countryside is contained in Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 7: The Countryside—Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development. PPG7 was recently amended to encourage local planning authorities to be more supportive of farm diversification projects that are consistent in their scale with their rural location.
	PPG2 sets out national planning policies for green belts and identifies those uses of land within green belts that may be appropriate.

Election Turnout

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what studies he is undertaking into the turnouts for elections in different countries and the reasons behind the differences in turnouts; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what research he has commissioned into the low turnout in the recent general election; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) undertaken into the costs and benefits of introducing compulsory voting for elections in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: No research has been commissioned or undertaken to investigate the costs and benefits of introducing compulsory voting nor into turnouts for elections in other countries. As to the low turnout in the recent general election, the Electoral Commission is undertaking a review of the conduct of that election. The Government will give careful consideration to the findings once the report is presented to Parliament.

Disability Discrimination Act

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reasons airlines and air carriers are exempted from the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act 1996; and what plans he has to bring them within the terms of the Act.

Sally Keeble: As travel by air is a predominantly international mode of transport, it was considered more appropriate to develop standards at international level for access to air travel for disabled people.
	My Department was closely involved, both through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), in drawing up the relevant advice for the aviation industry. We have more recently been working with the UK industry—airlines, airports and travel agents—and with our disability advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, to draw up a voluntary code of practice for the industry on meeting the needs of disabled passengers. The draft Code on which we have been consulting over the last few months draws on the work of ICAO and ECAC. We hope to publish the final version later this year.
	In responding to the Disability Rights Task Force report we also announced our intention to take a reserve regulation making power, when a suitable legislative opportunity arises, which could be used to give the Code statutory force if voluntary compliance proves ineffective.
	In addition, European airline and airport associations have recently agreed to commend a series of voluntary commitments on passenger rights to their respective members. Both the airline commitments and the airport commitments contain undertakings about the treatment of passengers with reduced mobility. We expect all major UK airlines and airports to adopt the relevant commitments, which will take effect from February 2002. Our Code of Practice will complement those commitments.

Planning Inquiries

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the changes he intends to make in the planning inquiry system; and what consultations his Department has had with non-governmental organisations on planning arrangements.

Sally Keeble: We introduced new rules for streamlining planning inquiries last August. We are monitoring the operation of the procedures.
	Separately, we have consulted on proposals to streamline the processing of major projects through the planning system. The proposals include measures to improve the procedures for public inquiries into major projects. Of the 127 responses to the consultation, 71 were from non-governmental organisations. We shall announce how we intend to proceed as soon as practicable.

Transport Infrastructure

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of transport infrastructure in delivery of regeneration policies.

Sally Keeble: Development of transport infrastructure can have an important role to play in delivering regeneration. English Regional Planning Bodies are required by Planning Policy Guidance Note 11 to produce regional transport strategies to reflect the economic and regeneration needs of the region. Transport and regeneration (with the exception of some rail issues) in Wales are matters for the Welsh Assembly.

Civil Servants

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many civil servants were employed by (a) the Department of the Environment and (b) the Department of Transport in April 1997.

Alan Whitehead: At 1 April 1997 the Department of the Environment (Central) employed 3,180 staff and the Department of Transport (Central) employed 1,777 staff. Both figures are expressed as full-time equivalents with part-time staff counted as a proportion of net conditioned hours worked.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to modify the planning system in respect of protection of sites of special scientific interest.

Sally Keeble: The Government are committed to ensuring that sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) receive a high level of protection through the planning system. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 included new and enhanced powers to improve the protection and management of SSSIs. We also intend to issue a revision of Planning Policy Guidance Note 9 (Nature Conservation) later this year for public consultation. In Wales, these matters are the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.

Noise Pollution

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's response to EU standards on noise pollution, with particular reference to noise abatement for those living close to motorways.

David Jamieson: holding answer 3 July 2001
	As indicated in the reply of my predecessor's my right hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Mr. Hill) of 30 October 2000, Official Report, column 306w, the Department has a continuing involvement in negotiating EU Directives in the reduction of noise emitted by new vehicles. These measures have already delivered a substantial reduction in noise levels from new vehicles and these measures will bring improvements as the vehicle fleet is renewed.
	The Department was involved in negotiating an EU Directive to limit tyre noise, this being the dominant source of noise from traffic at speeds above 40 mph. The Directive was adopted very recently.
	In addition, the 10-Year Plan for Transport, published in July last year, will enable the Highways Agency to install by 2011 quieter surfaces on over 60 per cent. of the national road network including all concrete stretches. The Highways Agency will also provide over the next 10 years other measures such as noise barriers in some of the worst and most pressing cases where there is no immediate need for the road to be resurfaced.

A303

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to dual stretches of the A303 in Somerset and Devon; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The London to South Wales and the South West Multi Modal Study currently in progress is looking at solution to problems on the main transportation corridors in the study area, including the M3/A303/A30 corridor. The study's recommendations will be considered by the Regional Planning Bodies for the South West and the South East, which are both represented on the steering group for the study. Only then will any decisions be taken on the addition of schemes to the trunk roads programme.

Exeter to Waterloo Line

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will announce the award of the new rail franchise for the Exeter to London Waterloo Line; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority intends that the Exeter to Waterloo line be included in the new Wessex franchise for which they invited expressions of interest in November last year. This is at a relatively early stage. The SRA has announced seven pre-qualifiers from whom it intends to invite proposals for the new franchise.

Fylingdales

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what contingency plans exist in the Department for a spill out into the North Yorkshire Moors National Park as a result of the construction of an X Band Radar at the Fylingdales site; and what proposals there are for expediting planning permission and holding a public inquiry.

Sally Keeble: There are no such contingency plans or proposals.

Rural Services

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to increase the scope of business rate relief for rural services.

Alan Whitehead: pursuant to the reply, 27 June 2001, c. 103W
	The Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act 2001 will extend the mandatory element of the village shop rate relief scheme to all food shops with rateable value of no more than £6,000, (and not £9,000 as stated) in a designated rural settlement with population up to 3,000.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Council of Europe

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what meetings of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers he plans to be represented at ministerial level for the rest of this year; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: There is one Council of Europe Ministerial remaining this year, scheduled for 7–8 November. Ministers will consider nearer the time at what level the UK should be represented, on the basis of the substantive issues on the agenda.

Council of Europe

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was his reply to the inquiry of the Latvian Chair-in-Office of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on the participation of parliamentarians in the national delegations to the General Assembly of the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the composition of the UK delegation at the forthcoming session.

Peter Hain: We do not appear to have received any inquiry from the Latvian Chairman in Office on the issue of participation of parliamentarians in national delegations.
	HMG will consider favourably any proposal that Members of Parliament join the delegation when the assembly covers issues of particular concern to them, subject to accepting that any interventions could not be made in a personal capacity but would have to represent the views and policy of HMG.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will lead the delegation to the 56th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and will attend parts of the General Debate. I shall also attend parts of the General Assembly. The rest of the delegation will comprise the British Permanent Representative, his staff, and officials from the FCO and other Government Departments.

Mercenaries

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resolutions on mercenaries were put before the 57th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in 2001; which were adopted; and what position the EU delegation took on each.

Peter Hain: The 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR) adopted a resolution proposed by Cuba on "The use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination" by 35 votes to 11, with six abstentions. The UK, with Belgium and Germany, voted against the resolution. The other EU members of the CHR, (Spain, France, Italy and Portugal) abstained. While fully recognising the numerous dangers caused by mercenary activity, the UK does not believe that the CHR is the appropriate forum to address the issue. This was the only resolution on mercenaries tabled at the CHR.

UK Human Rights Committee

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Minister will attend the UN Human Rights Committee hearings on the UK Periodic report due to be discussed later this year.

Peter Hain: The UK attaches importance to meeting its obligations to report on implementation of commitments under UN core human rights treaties. The UK's Fifth Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), submitted in 1999, was approved by Ministers. But in line with usual practice, there are no plans for a Minister to attend the Human Rights Committee examination of the UK report in October this year. Senior officials from the relevant Government Department will attend.

Western Sahara

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is regarding the recommendations contained in James Baker's report to the UN Security Council concerning the future of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We supported United Nations Security Council Resolution 1359 which was passed unanimously on 29 June 2001, which extended MINURSO's mandate until 30 November 2001. We fully support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to invite all the parties to meet directly or through proximity talks, under the auspices of his Personal Envoy, James Baker, and encourage the parties to discuss the draft Framework Agreement and to negotiate any specific changes they would like to see in this proposal, as well as to discuss any other proposal for a political solution, which may be put forward to the parties, to arrive at a mutually acceptable agreement. We also affirm that while such discussions go on, the official proposals submitted by the Polisario Front to overcome obstacles preventing implementation of the Settlement Plan will be considered.

EU Enlargement

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the indicative expenditure ceilings agreed in March 1999 of (a) an enlarged Community with six additional members and (b) the existing 15 member states.

Peter Hain: The Berlin European Council agreed ceilings for commitments for the existing 15 member states which amount to 644.8 billion euro over the period 2000 to 2006. It also agreed a total indicative amount of 58.1 billion euro for new member states up to 2006. All figures are in terms of 1999 prices.

Arms Trade

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) the EU, (b) USA and (c) developing countries concerning the forthcoming UN conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

Ben Bradshaw: The first ever UN Conference on Small Arms in July will signal a step-change in the international community's efforts to combat the uncontrolled spread and misuse of small arms that are the primary instruments of death and injury in conflicts and criminal acts worldwide. The UK has been actively engaged in the conference process both in its national capacity and within the EU.
	FCO has been in frequent and close consultation with EU partners, both bilaterally and through the regular EU working groups which discuss these issues.
	We also have many formal and informal contacts with the UK, for example in various arms control regimes and working groups, through which officials are able to discuss the subject of small arms and light weapons and other related issues. We also had contact with the US during the meetings in the preparatory process for the conference itself.
	The Government attach particular importance to contacts with developing countries, as these include a large number of states most affected by the effects of small arms and light weapons. In February this year the UK hosted a small arms and light weapons policy brainstorming seminar to which a wide selection of countries was invited. The then Foreign Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook), addressed that meeting. We also hold regular EU Troika meetings with SADC (Southern African Development Community), and participated in an EU/SADC meeting in the margins of the third PrepCom. In addition, the EU Presidency will be organising consultations between the EU and SADC, Latin American countries and others during the early stages of the conference. The subject has been a regular agenda item for a wide variety of bilateral meetings over the past year. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw), discussed prospects for the conference with the South African Foreign Minister.

Arms Trade

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will be attending the UN conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in July; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will not be attending the conference. The United Kingdom will be represented by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development, who has taken a close interest in the issue and in the preparatory process for the conference since it was initiated.
	The UK attaches considerable importance to supporting efforts to reduce the uncontrolled spread and use of small arms and light weapons. It has actively undertaken numerous initiatives, bilaterally and in line with the 1998 EU Joint Action on Small Arms. These include:
	on west Africa, work on the implementation of the ECOWAS Moratorium, focusing, in the UK-authored "next steps" report of 2000, on building political will;
	on Cambodia, UK facilitation of an EU-funded visit in August 2000 by the Legal Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister;
	on southern Africa, UK support for EU moves to bolster the EU/SADC process and its regional action programme.
	The UK also co-ordinated work leading to the November 2000 adoption of an OSCE Document on Small Arms, a significant regional contribution in itself and a major confidence-building step towards the UN conference.
	The UK hopes that the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects will agree a practical and constructive programme of action with sufficient political support to give an impetus to sustained follow-up and implementation. We are working with our EU partners to this end.

China

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the resolution on China's human rights record at the next UN commission on human rights.

Denis MacShane: No UN member state has yet announced an intention to table a resolution on China at the next session of the UN commission on human rights, to be held in Geneva in March and April 2002. We will consider with EU partners a common approach to any resolution nearer the time.

Council of the European Union

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for July and the major European Union events for the period between 31 July and December.

Peter Hain: The information is as follows:
	July 10—ECOFIN Meeting—Brussels
	Draft Agenda
	1. Work Programme of the Presidency
	Presentation and public discussion
	2. Adoption of provisional agenda
	3. (poss) Adoption of "A" points list
	4. Follow-up of the European Council of Goteborg
	5. Public finances in the E.M.U.
	Report of the Commission
	6. Fiscal policy of the European Union
	Communication of the Commission
	Orientation debate
	7. Calendar of the Tax Package
	Adoption
	8. Miscellaneous
	PM Euro Group
	Other business
	5–6—Liège—Informal Employment and Social Affairs Council
	13–14—Brussels—Regional Territories Council (Informal)?
	16–17—Brussels—General Affairs Council
	20—Brussels—Budget Council
	23–24—Brussels—Agriculture Council
	No agenda for the above are available yet.
	The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 August and December 2001 (certain relevant events are also included: the list is based on the information available at the date of issue).
	
		
			 Month Venue Event 
		
		
			 September   
			 6–7 Bruges External Trade Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 8–9 Genval Gymnich 
			 14–16 Leuven and Louvain-la-neuve Environment Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 16–18 Alden Biezen Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 22–23 Liège ECOFIN (Informal) 
			 24–25 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 27 Brussels Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council 
			 27–28 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 
			 October   
			 1 Brussels Research Council 
			 1 Brussels European Union Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session (possible) 
			 8 Brussels Employment and Social Affairs Council 
			 8–9 Luxembourg General Affairs Council 
			 9 Brussels Urban Metropolitan Policy Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 11–12 Brussels Defence Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 15–16 Brussels Transport and Telecommunications Council (possible) 
			 16 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 19 Gent European Council (Informal) 
			 22–23 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 25 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 29 Brussels Environment Council 
			 29–30 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			
			 November   
			 5 Brussels Cultural and Audio-visual Council 
			 6 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 8 Brussels Development and Co-operation Council 
			 9 Brussels European Union Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session 
			 12 Brussels Employment and Social Affairs 
			 15 Brussels Health Council 
			 16 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 
			 19–20 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 19–20 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 19–20 Brussels Capabilities Improvement Conference (Defence Ministers present) 
			 21–22 Brussels Budget Council (possible) 
			 26 Brussels Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council 
			 27 Brussels Fisheries Council (possible) 
			 29 Brussels Education and Youth Council 
			
			 December   
			 3 Brussels Employment and Social Affairs Council 
			 4 Bruges Culture Council (Informal) 
			 4 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 4 Brussels Energy Council 
			 5 Brussels Industry Council 
			 7–8 Brussels Transport and Telecommunications Council 
			 7–8 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 
			 10–11 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 10 Brussels Research Council 
			 12–13 Brussels Environment Council 
			 14–15 Brussels/Laeken European Council 
			 17–18 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 19–20 Brussels Fisheries Council

British Overseas Territories (Citizenship)

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to give British citizenship to the inhabitants of St. Helena and other former dependent territories.

Ben Bradshaw: The British Overseas Territories Bill, which will grant British citizenship to all British Dependent Territories citizens in qualifying territories, was given a first reading in the House of Lords on 21 June. The Second Reading is scheduled for 10 July. The Bill was published on 22 June. Copies of the Bill, with Explanatory Notes, are available from the Libraries of both Houses.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with the Greenland Prime Minister on the ABM Treaty.

Ben Bradshaw: There have been no discussions between my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and the Greenland Prime Minister on the ABM Treaty.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from pressure groups in (a) Denmark and (b) Greenland about the use of Thule bases for National Missile Defence.

Ben Bradshaw: I am not aware of any representations from pressure groups in Denmark or Greenland being made to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary about the use of Thule base for Missile Defence.

Passports

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the sale of passports in Eastern Europe by the Belgian Government; and if persons who have secured passports in this way have the right of entry into the UK.

Peter Hain: The Belgian MFA has carried out an internal inquiry into allegations made by a former employee of the Belgian Embassy in Sofia regarding the sale of visas at the Embassy. Although passports were not included in the allegations, we understand that the inquiry also looked into passports. The inquiry found no evidence to support the allegations and concluded that no rules had been broken. Separately, a judicial inquiry was launched in 1997 into the allegations and is still under way. It will be for the Belgian Procurator General to decide the outcome in this case.
	Visas issued by the Belgian authorities allow access to the countries in the Schengen zone, which covers all EU countries except the UK and Ireland. They therefore do not permit entry to the United Kingdom, which maintains its own frontier controls and does not participate in Schengen visa arrangements.

TREASURY

Private Finance Initiative

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has carried out into (a) cost savings and (b) efficiency savings in total Government expenditure through the use of the Private Finance Initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The information that has been requested is not kept centrally. The nature and diversity of PFI projects would make any global figure broken down in the way requested ambiguous.
	However, there have been two substantive reports on PFI, since its inception, which have indicated that PFI is delivering value for money. The independent Arthur Andersen and Enterprise LSE Report stated the average percentage estimated saving against conventional procurement for the sample of projects they looked at, averaged 17 per cent. Also the NAO report on "PFI and value for money" found an average cost saving of 20 per cent. or just under £1 billion in total, across seven projects examined by the NAO up until December 1999. This saving is measured against the conventional procurement route.

Car-sharing

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the additional number of journeys made by car-sharing in 2002–03 as a consequence of introducing a new passenger rate for authorised car mileage in the March 2001 Budget.

Paul Boateng: The Government are introducing a tax exempt rate of 5p per mile per passenger carried on a business trip from 2002–03 onwards to help employers encourage their employees to car-share wherever possible.
	The Inland Revenue does not have a specific estimate of the additional number of journeys which will be made by car-sharing in 2002–03 owing to this, but will be evaluating the effects of this measure over time.

VAT (Cycle Helmets)

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the demand for adult cycle helmets in the United Kingdom of his policy of removing VAT from the purchase of such helmets from 1 April; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: No such assessment has been made.

Child Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans to halve child poverty within 10 years, indicating the benchmarks against which this is to be measured.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's annual publication "Opportunity for All" sets out a full range of indicators against which we will monitor progress on our commitment to halve child poverty in 10 years and abolish it in a generation. Copies of the first two "Opportunity for All" reports are available in the Library. The next publication is due this autumn.

Spending Plans

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the annual rate of growth of total managed expenditure, in real terms, for each of the years 1999–2000 to 2003–04; what the assumptions are for such growth in real annual total managed expenditure for 2004–05 and 2005–06 contained in the March 2001 Financial Statement and Budget report; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The latest Treasury projections for total managed expenditure for 1999–2000 to 2003–04 were published in Table C11 on page 199 of the March 2001 "Financial Statement and Budget Report".
	The assumptions underlying the real growth in total managed expenditure for 2004–05 and 2005–06 contained in the March 2001 Financial Statement and Budget Report are set out in paragraph C17 on page 186 of that document. Firm spending plans for these years will be set in the 2002 spending review.

Beer Duty

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the costs and benefits of introducing a reduced rate of duty on the beer produced by small breweries; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The last Budget announced the Government were minded to introduce a reduced rate of duty on the beer produced by small breweries and will be considering the scope for doing so in the course of this year. The costs and benefits of such a scheme will be considered as part of that process.

Departmental Expenditure

Colin Challen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the per capita spending of all Government Departments in each of the regions and nations of the United Kingdom was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Andrew Smith: Chapter 8 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2001–02 (Cm 5101) offers a full analysis of public expenditure by country and region.

Company Cars

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2001, Official Report, column 59W, on company cars, what assessment he has made of the impact of the loss to employees of company car tax concessions.

Paul Boateng: The new company car tax system from April 2002 is designed to achieve lower levels of harmful emissions from cars. It does away with the reductions for driving higher levels of business mileage as this can be an incentive to drive unnecessary business miles. The reforms have been projected to have a broadly neutral effect on tax revenues, so in overall terms there is no loss to employees.
	Many company car drivers will be paying less tax for the benefit of their company car under the new system. Having a company car with relatively low carbon dioxide emissions would help to ameliorate tax liabilities under the new system for any driver.
	It is worth noting that we expect more drivers to take the opportunity of having a company car under the new rules. In fact the Inland Revenue has estimated that the reforms will lead to a net increase of around 200,000 company cars in the long term.

Foot and Mouth (Tourism)

David Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the loss in tax as a result of lost tourist industry income arising from the foot and mouth outbreak.

Dawn Primarolo: No robust estimates for the changes in tax revenues resulting from the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak on the tourist industry are available.

Contracts (Advertising)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what obligation is placed on public bodies in respect of (a) PPP, (b) PFI and (c) other financial arrangements, for advertising the relevant contracts in the (i) Official Journal and (ii) other publications of the European Community; under what article of which treaty and associated legislation any such requirement is made; what publication sets out the rules which must be followed in such agreements; and whether they apply equally to charitable and profit-making enterprises.

Andrew Smith: Contracting authorities/entities are required to call for competition for procurement contracts, above certain financial thresholds, in the Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC). This includes PFI/PPP contracts where appropriate. Advertising in other publications is not mandatory, but must not pre-empt advertisement in OJEC.
	This requirement arises from the EC procurement directives (which are based on principles of the EC Treaty). The principal legal basis was Articles 30, 57(2), 66 and 100a and the Directives have been implemented in the UK by the following Regulations (as amended):
	The Public Works Contracts Regulations—SI 1991/2680
	The Public Services Contracts Regulations—SI 1993/3228
	The Public Supply Contracts Regulations—SI 1995/201
	The Utilities Contracts Regulations—SI 1996/2911.
	The application of these Directives/Regulations to charities and profit-making enterprises depends on whether they fall within the definition of state, regional or local authority or "body covered by public law" for the purposes of the Regulations. The Directives do not normally apply to charities and profit-making bodies unless they propose to award a works contract funded for the most part by a public body.

Business Costs

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the size of the changes in (a) costs and (b) taxes applying to business since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Assessments of the risks, costs and benefits of new legislative proposals are made within Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs); information on taxation is in the Financial Statement and Budget Reports, both of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.

VAT (Empty Homes)

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many empty homes will qualify for a reduction in VAT as announced in his Budget Statement 2001.

Paul Boateng: Customs estimate that the reduced VAT rate for renovating empty homes should help to bring back into use up to 2,400 empty homes each year. Additionally, the Budget made a minor adjustment to the zero rate for the sale of renovated long-term empty houses, which from 1 August will benefit from relief if they have been empty for 10 years or more. This is expected to bring back into use up to 25 empty houses a year.
	The measure has been warmly welcomed by the Empty Homes Agency.

VAT (Empty Homes)

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what criteria owners of empty properties will qualify for a reduction in VAT when renovating their properties.

Paul Boateng: A reduced 5 per cent. VAT rate applies to renovation work on an empty home that has not been lived in for three years or more.
	The Government did not, however, want to disadvantage people who have to live in a house while renovating it. So if someone buys a house after it has been empty for three years or more and lives in it during the renovation work, the reduced rate applies to the building work provided it is completed within one year from the date the owner bought the house.
	In addition, from 1 August, no VAT applies to the sale of a renovated house which has been empty for 10 years more.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Smuggling

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) given a custodial sentence for smuggling goods across the Irish border in each of the past 10 years.

Paul Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not available in this format.

Human Rights

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the job description and personal specification are for the post of Senior Legal Adviser on Human Rights to the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and what bodies and institutions were consulted about (a) the terms of reference of this post and (b) the text and placement of the advertisement.

Des Browne: A copy of the application pack sent to applicants expressing an interest in the post has been placed in the Library. It contains the job description and personal specification. The Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission for Northern Ireland was consulted and the competition is being conducted in line with best practice.

Human Rights

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will reply to the report of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission under section 69(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Des Browne: The Government were pleased to receive the report from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission under section 69(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. We are currently considering the recommendations and will respond substantively as soon as possible.

Police Recruitment

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the terms of reference are for the monitoring project being undertaken by Consensia to observe the recruitment process of the Northern Ireland police service; how many volunteers have been tasked to participate in this scheme; what the personal specifications were for volunteers; how they were selected; what the composition is of the monitoring teams, broken down by (a) gender and (b) perceived community origin; and what discussions took place with the civil service trade unions concerning the use of volunteer staff.

Jane Kennedy: Observation of recruitment to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland is being undertaken by a pool of voluntary Community Observers, who are independent of Consensia and who are currently managed by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland. They will become the responsibility of the Policing Board when it is established.
	The role of the Independent Community Observers is set out in Regulation 10 of the Police (Recruitment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2001.
	The personal specification for Independent Community Observers sets out the qualities and skills that potential candidates should possess. These are:
	(a) effective oral and written communication skills;
	(b) discretion and impartiality;
	(c) the ability to work as part of a team; and
	(d) the ability to make sound judgments.
	Applicants for the roles were selected on the basis of the evidence they provided in their application form, and subsequently at interview stage, to demonstrate that they possessed these qualities and skills. A merit list was then compiled from which a pool of 63 Observers was selected.
	Of that pool, 53 Observers were trained and commenced observing the recruitment process at the beginning of June 2001.
	The breakdown of the pool of 53 Observers, in the format requested, is as follows:
	
		
			 Gender Number 
		
		
			 Male 23 
			 Female 30 
			  
			 Total 53 
		
	
	
		
			 Perceived community origin Number 
		
		
			 Protestant 26 
			 Catholic 23 
			 Other 4 
			  
			 Total 53 
		
	
	No discussions took place with the civil service trade unions concerning the use of volunteer staff. The process used was in accordance with best practice guidance for the selection and appointment of volunteers.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Temporary Classrooms (Somerset)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many temporary classrooms have been in use in Somerset in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: We do not have information on Somerset's temporary buildings at this level of detail. This information may be available from the local education authority.
	In connection with the Department's arrangements for appraising asset management plans, we are, however, planning to publish later this year analyses of authorities' premises information for benchmarking purposes. These should include some information on temporary accommodation, although not on a year-by-year basis.

School Repairs (Somerset)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the backlog of school buildings repair and maintenance work in Somerset; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Information on the backlog should be currently available from the local education authority.
	Authorities' data on the repair and maintenance backlog, supplied as part of DfES' arrangements for appraising asset management plans, are being validated with a view to publishing analyses for benchmarking purposes later this year.

Further Education Colleges

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching staff have (a) been employed in further education colleges and (b) left further education in each of the last four academic years.

John Healey: holding answer 2 July 2001
	The number of teaching staff employed in FE colleges is shown in the table:
	
		Number of teaching staff in FE colleges in England
		
			  Thousand  
			  Number 
		
		
			 1995–96 134.7 
			 1996–97 130.9 
			 1997–98 141.8 
			 1998–99 144.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The latest available data are for 1998–99
	2. Information on the number of teachers who leave further education is not collected centrally

Tuition Fees

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to increase the level of tuition fees in England and Wales; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Tuition fees at publicly funded institutions are uprated each year to take account of inflation.

Post-16 Capital Allocations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the post 16-capital allocations will be announced.

John Healey: holding answer 3 July 2001
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department announced on 28 March 2001 that capital provision for further education would rise to £177 million in 2003–04. The base funding is £110 million in each of the years 2001–02 and 2002–03. Allocations to individual further education colleges are made by the Learning and Skills Council throughout the year in response to bids.

Sure Start

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the sure start proposals will be rolled out nationally.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 3 July 2001
	Sure start works with parents-to-be, parents and children to promote the physical, intellectual and social development of babies and young children. The Government's current plans are to establish 500 local programmes by 2004, in disadvantaged neighbourhoods throughout England. Of these, 260 programmes have been announced so far, of which 179 have now had their plans approved. We expect to announce further sure start programmes soon.

Rapid Response Fund

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will investigate the procedures by which companies and work forces can access the rapid response fund.

John Healey: holding answer 3 July 2001
	We continually monitor the rapid response fund to ensure it is used as intended—to provide specialist advice, training and other support to people involved in redundancies that have a significant impact on the local labour market and where no alternative existing provision is available. Proposals are considered against a variety of criteria that include the impact of the redundancy on the local labour market, the level of partnership involvement, clear outputs and value for money. We also expect training proposals to be matched as far as possible to the needs of employers with vacancies so that people can move quickly into new jobs. DfES officials make every effort to ensure bids submitted via regional development agencies are processed as quickly as possible and provide an initial approval decision within three working days. The fund is designed to be as flexible as possible and, within the last year, we have introduced changes to increase its flexibility and make it more responsive to local needs. Demand is high and has increased significantly over the last six months.

Individual Learning Accounts

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to announce the findings of the early process evaluation and customer satisfaction surveys in relation to individual learning accounts.

John Healey: The findings of the early process evaluation and customer satisfaction surveys in relation to individual learning accounts will be published towards the end of September.

Digital Divide

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what policies she is pursuing to tackle the problem of the digital divide; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The Department is pursuing a range of measures to tackle the digital divide in order to help increase people's employability, to enable them to use new technologies to enrich their lives, and to encourage lifelong learning for all. Our measures help provide access and the skills needed for individuals to use information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly for those most at risk from exclusion. We are providing public access to new technologies and the internet through UK online centres. There are almost 1,500 centres now open, with 6,000 centres planned in total by the end of 2002. We are investing in wiring up communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas in England, enabling people to explore the internet in the comfort of their own homes and to develop skills, access job opportunities and become more involved in their communities. We are also making progress in improving computer/pupil ratios, to ensure that in future all school leavers should be able to use and benefit from new technologies. 88 per cent. of all schools are now connected to the internet.

AS-Levels

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils entered AS-level modules in January; and how many of those are retaking those AS modules.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 3 July 2001
	There is no information as yet on the number of pupils who sat the January AS unit tests. However, 214,384 unit entries were recorded from the analysis of the January results. The AS-level qualification is made up of three units: students may choose to sit all three unit tests in January or in June, or spread them throughout the year.
	There is no statistical information on how many of the pupils who sat the AS units in January are retaking their modules.

PRIME MINISTER

Flooding (Torbay)

Anthony Steen: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Galmpton, Torbay, to discuss flooding problems with residents.

Tony Blair: I have no plans to do so. I am aware that Galmpton has experienced flash flooding in recent years, and that this has caused distress and damage to local residents. Decisions on flood defence projects and their timing are the responsibility of local operating authorities, in particular the Environment Agency and local councils. I understand that the agency is currently discussing options for Galmpton with Torbay council, and will work with them urgently to address the situation.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will discuss with President Bush unilateral proposals by the Rumsfeld Commission to delete article IX of the 1972 ABM treaty;
	(2)  if he will have discussions with President Bush on a co-operative approach with Russia and China on Strategic Missile Defence.

Tony Blair: I will continue to engage constructively with President Bush across the range of issues relating to his ideas for limited missile defence systems and a new strategic framework. The President has made no decisions on specific missile defence systems or their deployment and is currently engaged in wide-ranging international consultation with allies, Russia, China and others on his ideas.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with President Bush the concept of invulnerability through military supremacy in relation to the weaponisation of space.

Tony Blair: I have no plans to do so. I believe that the conference on disarmament is the appropriate forum for discussion of issues relating to the military use of space, and support the creation of an ad hoc committee to discuss the prevention of an arms race in outer space.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with President Putin the potential for the US policy on national missile defence to include a first strike capability.

Tony Blair: The US has made it clear that missile defence is envisaged as one element of a comprehensive strategy to deal with a new threat caused by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It is not aimed at defending against the Russian strategic arsenal, still less at giving the United States the capacity to attack Russia. President Bush has made it clear that it no longer considers Russia an enemy. I have discussed missile defence and related issues with President Putin on a number of occasions, and expect to continue to do so.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of UK participation in US national missile defence on the (a) global moratorium on nuclear testing and (b) prospects of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty coming into force;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the consequences of British participation in national missile defence for the 1993 strategic arms reduction treaty, START 2 and the START regime.

Tony Blair: President Bush has made no decisions on specific missile defence systems or their deployment and we therefore do not know what UK participation may be sought. The US is also currently engaged in a wide-ranging international consultation process, including with Russia. On both counts it is therefore premature to make such an assessment.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with the Secretary General of the UN, President Bush's proposal for a first test of a space-based laser in 2012.

Tony Blair: I have no plans to do so.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will propose to the Presidents of (a) China, (b) France, (c) Russia and (d) the United States of America that the 1967 outer space treaty cover directed energy and laser weapons.

Tony Blair: I have no plans to make such a proposal.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with President Bush the restructuring of the missile technology control regime in relation to political initiatives based on arms control and confidence-building measures.

Tony Blair: We remain fully committed to the MTCR and have regular contacts with MTCR partners, including the US, to maintain and strengthen the regime and ensure it remains effective in the fight against the proliferation of long-range missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction. The MTCR will continue to be a mainstay of the effort to combat missile proliferation, alongside complementary political initiatives such as the draft international code of conduct against ballistic missile proliferation in which the United Kingdom is also playing a key role.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss the position of modifications of non-ABM radars on UK territory with (a) Washington and (b) Moscow.

Tony Blair: I have no plans to do so.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with President Bush before he made his speech on 1 May 2000 about the future of the 1972 ABM treaty.

Tony Blair: I have discussed missile defence and related issues including the ABM treaty with President Bush on several occasions, both at our meeting at Camp David on 23 February and subsequently.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the dangers faced by the United Kingdom as a target for foreign powers, as a result of acquiescing in the construction of two new radomes at Menwith Hill.

Tony Blair: Two radomes have been constructed at RAF Menwith Hill as part of the European relay ground station for the space based infra red system, which is designed to detect the launch of ballistic missiles. This updates an existing system. We assess that the implications for the security of the UK have not significantly changed.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister what 
	(1)  discussions he has had with President Bush about the facilities to receive information for early warning and missile-tracking satellites at Menwith Hill ground relay station;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with President Bush about the installation of X Band Radar at Fylingdales operating in the X-Ray Band of the electromagnetic spectrum;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with President Bush for forward-deployed radars in relation to National Missile Defence.

Tony Blair: None. As President Bush and I both made clear following our meeting at Camp David on 23 February, the US Administration has not yet decided how it will seek to deploy missile defences. That remains the case.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will set up a Royal Commission to examine the consequences and implications of British participation in the extension of war-fighting into space.

Tony Blair: No.

National Missile Defence

Martin Caton: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the economic and political implications of British participation in the US National Missile Defence system.

Tony Blair: The US has not yet decided how it will seek to proceed with missile defence and has not put forward specific proposals for UK involvement. We have made clear we would consider any such proposals carefully taking into account all relevant factors in light of circumstances at the time, including their implications for the UK.

Pine Bay Joint Space Research Facility

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with the Government of Australia UK participation in the Pine Bay joint space research facility, in relation to information detected by satellites covering the southern Hemisphere.

Tony Blair: I have no plans to do so.

NATO Expansion

Alice Mahon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with President Putin the commitment not to expand NATO into the former Soviet Republics.

Tony Blair: NATO has made no commitment to Russia that it will not expand into the former Soviet Republics. In signing the NATO-Russia founding act in 1997, Russia acknowledged her commitment to:
	"respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states and their inherent right to choose the means to ensure their own security." Any decision on NATO enlargement will be based on the three criteria set out at the 1999 Washington Summit: the aspirant must be ready to join NATO; NATO itself must be ready to accept new members; any new enlargement must enhance overall European security.
	NATO is committed to building and maintaining a strong working relationship with Russia, built on transparency and mutual respect. The regular meeting that takes place between NATO and Russia through the Permanent Joint Council (PJC) embodies this relationship.

Engagements

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 4 July.

Tony Blair: This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I will have further such meetings later today.

Disabled People

David Willetts: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on ministerial responsibilities for disabled people; and what arrangements he has made for cross-departmental consultation on issues affecting disabled people.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 92W. As the ministerial code makes clear, it is the responsibility of the initiating Department in any area of policy to ensure that proposals have been discussed with other interested Departments. Baroness Morgan has responsibility for cross-cutting equality issues.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Walton Group

Louise Ellman: To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions the Crown Prosecution Service has held with Merseyside police serious fraud squad concerning the investigation of the Walton Group in relation to Exchange Flags Liverpool; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Serious Fraud Office was consulted by the Merseyside police in October 2000 concerning allegations of fraud in relation to the Walton Group plc. An extended vetting inquiry followed including examination of available files and evidence as well as meetings with Merseyside police and English Partnerships.
	After careful consideration, it was decided that there was insufficient evidence to justify an investigation under section 1 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987.

DEFENCE

Defence Military Assistance Fund

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure under the defence military assistance fund relating to (a) Zimbabwe, (b) South Africa, (c) Jordan, (d) Egypt, (e) Pakistan, (f) Indonesia, (g) Brazil, (h) Kuwait, (i) Malaysia, (j) Nigeria, (k) Oman, (l) Taiwan, (m) Thailand, (n) Turkey and (o) the United Arab Emirates for (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000 indicating separately the amounts used to support defence sales.

Geoff Hoon: The Ministry of Defence's financial systems that were in place for the years in question cannot provide precise details of actual defence assistance fund (DAF) expenditure. (The DAF was formerly known as the defence military assistance fund—DMAF). However, the level of DAF funding approved and committed for each of the subject countries is known and is detailed as follows.
	
		£ 
		
			  Policy Sales Total 
		
		
			 1997–98
			 Brazil 26,200 262,200 288,400 
			 Egypt 117,612 17,788 135,400 
			 Indonesia 42,684 415,600 458,284 
			 Jordan 164,400 0 164,400 
			 Kuwait 66,222 4,978 71,200 
			 Malaysia 37,279 261,200 298,479 
			 Nigeria 0 0 0 
			 Oman 826,891 450,100 1,276,991 
			 Pakistan 63,500 0 63,500 
			 South Africa 86,898 52,200 139,098 
			 Taiwan 0 0 0 
			 Thailand 39,900 0 39,900 
			 Turkey 148,636 6,964 155,600 
			 United Arab Emirates 8,120 785,500 793,620 
			 Zimbabwe 29,779 6,521 36,300 
			 
			 1998–99
			 Brazil 0 124,000 124,000 
			 Egypt 87,196 0 87,196 
			 Indonesia 55,779 100,000 155,779 
			 Jordan 295,511 65,600 361,011 
			 Kuwait 16,354 149,000 165,354 
			 Malaysia 238,850 63,700 302,550 
			 Nigeria 76,000 0 76,000 
			 Oman 1,048,552 608,300 1,656,852 
			 Pakistan 94,433 10,000 104,433 
			 South Africa 212,293 102,900 315,193 
			 Taiwan 0 0 0 
			 Thailand 13,312 17,000 30,312 
			 Turkey 113,212 0 113,212 
			 United Arab Emirates 12,129 440,000 452,129 
			 Zimbabwe 36,767 0 36,767 
			 
			 1999–2000
			 Brazil 1,504 314,000 315,504 
			 Egypt 15,378 2,500 17,878 
			 Indonesia 15,249 0 15,249 
			 Jordan 354,315 161,000 515,315 
			 Kuwait 48,724 17,500 66,224 
			 Malaysia 89,612 1,028,750 1,118,362 
			 Nigeria 174,861 0 174,861 
			 Oman 2,089,535 294,400 2,383,935 
			 Pakistan 119,686 10,000 129,686 
			 South Africa 938,261 193,000 1,131,261 
			 Taiwan 0 0 0 
			 Thailand 60,994 10,000 70,994 
			 Turkey 483,000 0 483,000 
			 United Arab Emirates 23,526 242,873 266,399 
			 Zimbabwe 104,239 0 104,239

Ballistic Missiles

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment his Department has made of the risks posed by long-range missile attacks.

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library what risk assessment of ballistic missile attack on the UK from (a) North Korea, (b) Iran, (c) Iraq, (d) Libya and (e) Syria has been made; and what assessment has been made of the potential of these countries to develop inventories of (i) global medium-range, (ii) intermediate range and (iii) inter- continental range ballistic missile.

Geoff Hoon: We assess that there is currently no significant ballistic missile threat to the mainland of the United Kingdom. We do, however, continue to monitor developments closely, particularly as they might affect deployed forces.
	North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya and Syria all have ballistic missiles development and/or production programmes and have the potential to develop, or to obtain inventories of, longer-range ballistic missiles. North Korea and Iran already possess medium-range ballistic missiles and North Korea has the technology needed to develop ballistic missiles of intercontinental range.

Combat Effectiveness Gender Study

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of the combat effectiveness gender study; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Work on the study into the effect of gender upon combat effectiveness has mainly been carried out by staff in the course of their normal business, and the costs have not therefore been recorded. Those costs that can be identified relate to work conducted on our behalf by contractors. This amounts to approximately £100,000.

National Missile Defence

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Danish Government about the use of Thule radar sites for national missile defence.

Geoff Hoon: My Danish counterpart and I discussed missile defence in general terms when we met on 15 February 2001.

US National Ignition Facility

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on British participation in the national ignition facility at the Laurence Livermore laboratory in the US.

Geoff Hoon: The UK remains committed to participating in the US national ignition facility programme in order to gain access to a high powered laser which is a key element of our warhead stewardship programme.

RAF Training Flight Paths (Wind Farms)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of proposed wind farm developments in Moray on RAF training flight paths; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: As there is potential for wind farms to interfere with radar, low flying and other communications, each wind energy proposal received by the Ministry of Defence is evaluated on a case-by-case basis by several specialists; this includes the assessment of the impact upon RAF training paths.
	The Ministry of Defence supports fully the Government's renewable energy policy. However, we must ensure that the defences of the United Kingdom are not jeopardised and that our aircrews are able to conduct training safely. Of the eight proposals we have had, we had no objections to seven and one is currently being assessed. Owing to the commercial sensitivity of the information I am withholding details of the sites under exemption 7 of the code of practice on access to government information.

Anti-satellite Weapons

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of anti-satellite weapons, called parasitic satellites.

Geoff Hoon: Small satellites do not yet constitute a credible capability as anti-satellite systems; such threats continue to be monitored closely. The effectiveness of anti-satellite weapons is best assessed on a case-by-case basis.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Post Office Closures

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices closed each year for the last 20 years.

Douglas Alexander: I understand from the Post Office that net post office closures in each of the last 20 years have been as follows:
	
		
			 Year ending Closures 
		
		
			 March  
			 1982 70 
			 1983 104 
			 1984 243 
			 1985 395 
			 1986 358 
			 1987 94 
			 1988 140 
			 1989 41 
			 1990 159 
			 1991 233 
			 1992 478 
			 1993 202 
			 1994 176 
			 1995 175 
			 1996 193 
			 1997 163 
			 1998 243 
			 1999 233 
			 2000 382 
			 2001 547 
		
	
	I am informed by the Post Office that of the closures of the year ending March 2001, only four are permanent.

Enterprise Bill

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Enterprise Bill will include measures to implement the Cruickshank review recommendations on the establishment of a payments regulator.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 2 July 2001
	The Enterprise Bill aims to encourage enterprise, strengthen competition laws and promote safeguards for consumers. As announced on 18 June, details of what will be included in the Bill will be published by the end of July.

Yorkshire and Humberside (Economic Growth)

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to ensure that the economy of the Yorkshire and Humberside region grows to the United Kingdom per capita average.

Alan Johnson: The regional development agency—Yorkshire Forward—was established in April 1999 to address the economic deficit in the region. Its regional economic strategy aims to create 150,000 new jobs by 2010 and achieve above UK and European average GDP growth each year.
	In 2001–02, Yorkshire Forward has a programme budget of £213 million and a cumulative target of creating with partners up to 21,000 jobs. I will be working closely with Yorkshire Forward and its partners to ensure they deliver these improvements.

Newspaper/Magazine Distribution

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will refer newspaper and magazine wholesaling and distribution to the Competition Commission.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 3 July 2001
	Under UK competition legislation, it is for the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate allegations of anti-competitive behaviour and if appropriate make a reference to the Competition Commission under the Fair Trading Act 1973 or take action under the Competition Act 1998.

Rural Sub-post Offices

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the help she provides to sustain small rural sub-post offices.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 3 July 2001
	We are committed to contributing towards the costs of universal banking services, which will be available at all post offices, and to providing transitional financial assistance to rural post offices. Decisions on the provision of this assistance will be taken in the context of advice from the Postal Services Commission expected in the autumn. In addition, we have announced a £2 million fund to support volunteer and community initiatives to maintain or reopen post office facilities in rural areas where the traditional post office would otherwise close. Sub-post offices in small rural settlements are eligible for rate relief.

Miners' Compensation

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much compensation has been paid to coal health claimants.

Brian Wilson: In respect of British Coal health claims, the Department has paid almost £0.5 billion in compensation.

Regulation

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 31W, how many regulations her Department has (a) introduced and (b) reviewed the operation and working of since May 1997; and if she will place copies of such reviews in the Library.

Nigel Griffiths: The DTI has been responsible for the introduction of 496 statutory instruments since May 1997. Of these, we estimate three quarters have not imposed costs for business, and about a tenth have saved costs for business. A third of all the regulations introduced by this Department since 1997 have been licenses allowing companies to operate as public telecommunication providers.
	We have kept the regulatory environment in all sectors under continual review since May 1997. There have been numerous reviews of regulations, and copies of relevant White and Green Papers are available from the House Libraries. I will write to the hon. Member with a full list as soon as possible and place a copy in the Library of the House.

Regulation

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets have been set for the reduction of regulation in those sectors of the utility industries where competition is fully developed; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 25 June 2001
	The Government set the legal framework which places statutory duties on each of the regulators and consider the proper discharge of these duties is a matter for each regulator. It would therefore not be appropriate for the Government to set targets for the regulators.

Regulation

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 31W, if she will list (a) public consultations held under the Consultation Code, setting out the length of each consultation period and the reasons for consultations lasting less than 12 weeks and (b) regulations with an impact on business introduced under the new procedures setting out (i) the length of time between guidance being issued and the regulation taking effect and (ii) the reasons for guidance being issued less than 12 weeks before the regulation took effect.

Nigel Griffiths: The consultation code applies to all public consultations launched since January 2001. Consultations on the following subjects have consultation periods of at least 12 weeks which have not yet closed:
	changes to parental leave regulations.
	statutory guidance to the Gas and Electricity markets authority on Social and Environmental Objectives.
	Financial Penalties: Determination of turnover under the Utilities Act 2000.
	Removing the 20 partner limit from partnerships and limited partnerships.
	Consultations on the following subjects launched since that date have no closing date:
	Reform of the EC competition regime.
	The impact of former coal mineshafts on the property market in Stoke-on-Trent.
	One current consultation has a consultation period of one month. It is on proposed amendments to the Working Time Regulations 1998 to remove the annual leave qualifying period. This shorter period is necessary because of the need to remove uncertainty and to amend UK law as soon as possible following a judgment by the European Court of Justice. This judgment found that the existing provision in the Regulations is contrary to the working time directive.
	Public consultations on the following subjects launched since 1 January have already closed, and the consultation period was at least 12 weeks:
	EC Directive 199/93 for electronic signatures.
	Proposals for regulations relating to fixed-term work.
	How the DTI should fulfil its obligations under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act.
	Proposed electricity safety, quality and continuity regulations.
	Possible amendments to the Equipment and Protective Systems intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996.
	Proposed changes to the consents process for offshore wind farms.
	EC Directive on Certain Aspects of the Sale of Consumer Goods and Associated Guarantees.
	Copyright and Visually Impaired People.
	EC Directive 71/98 on Legal Protection of Designs.
	Measuring Equipment (Direct Mass Flow Measuring Systems) Regulations.
	Oil and Gas Infrastructure Access Provisions and Voluntary Arrangements.
	Trading Disclosures.
	Public consultations on the following subjects, launched since 1 January 2001 and now closed and lasting less than 12 weeks, were reconsultation, where there had already been at least one previous period of consultation on the substantive issues concerned:
	Updating the law concerning directory entries (consultation in 1999 had shown widespread agreement among stakeholders, and this new consultation concerned matters of detailed implementation). The consultation period was one month.
	Modification of the standard condition of gas and electricity licenses by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority. This was a second consultation on the substantive issues, seeking further views from stakeholders on more detailed points. The consultation period was four weeks.
	Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations. Consultation was on draft regulations following two earlier consultations on the substantive issues. The consultation period was six weeks.
	Consultations on the following subjects were not reconsultations, and the consultation periods lasted less than 12 weeks:
	Draft Export Control and Non-Proliferation Bill. The consultation period in this case was eight weeks as most of the proposals in the draft Bill were the subject of previous consultation. In addition many of the issues consulted on related to secondary legislation. There will be an opportunity for further consultation during the Bill's passage through Parliament.
	Proposed amendments to electricity supply licences. This consultation period lasted for four weeks, because of the urgent need to consult on the desirability of bringing forward legislation to provide for additional powers to safeguard against potential market abuse.
	Guidance has been issued more than 12 weeks before the relevant regulation came into force in relation to the following regulations which have entered into force since 1 January 2001:
	Patent Amendment Rules 2001.
	The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors Regulations 2001. Guidance in this case had been published when the EC Directive was adopted, one year before the regulation came into force. Specific guidance on the regulation was published simultaneously with the regulations, four weeks before the regulation came into force.
	Guidance on the following regulations was issued less than 12 weeks prior to the regulation taking effect:
	Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations, due to the redrafting of the regulation in response to consultation responses.
	The Non-automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2000. No new guidance was issued but the current guidance notes will be updated.
	The Weights and Measures (Metrication Amendments) Regulations 2001. These regulations came into force on 8 February 2001 and guidance was sent to all relevant organisations on 11 and 25 January 2001. However these regulations state that new arrangements will enter into force finally in 2009.

Regulation

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 30W, what operational target date the Small Business Service was set for the establishment of an Index of Regulation; and what plans the Government have for the Small Business Service to introduce such an index.

Nigel Griffiths: The Small Business Service corporate plan 2000–01 to 2002–03 included a target to establish an index of the impact of regulation on small business by December 2000.

Rover Task Force

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down the amount of money spent from the Rover task force in each local authority area.

Brian Wilson: The Rover task force funds projects across the west midlands, which assist with the long-term economic regeneration of the region. All parts of the west midlands will benefit from the investment in the region's long-term future. As it is a regional initiative, data were not recorded on a local authority basis.

Rover Task Force

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if funding from the Rover task force will be provided for the volunteer bureau in Bromsgrove.

Brian Wilson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has now accepted the final report of the Rover task force, which sets strategic priorities for the automotive sector and economic regeneration of the region. The funding of £129 million has already been fully allocated to good quality business projects in the region and unfortunately there are no resources remaining. However there was no scope for funding projects from the voluntary sector.

Village Post Offices (Road Tax)

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to allow village post offices to issue road tax licences.

Douglas Alexander: Consideration is being given to increasing the provision of services through post offices and sub-post offices as part of developing the Government general practitioner facility.

Arms Exports

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce further legislation to control the export of arms from the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 3 July 2001
	The Export Control Bill was introduced to Parliament on 26 June. This follows a comprehensive and detailed review by the Government of the existing legislative framework governing strategic export controls, taking into account the views of all interested parties. The Export Control Bill will replace the export control provisions of the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939. The Bill contains new powers to strengthen the export control regime, sets out the purposes for which export controls can be imposed and provides for parliamentary scrutiny of secondary legislation made under the Bill.

German Plutonium

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to make arrangements for the treatment and return of German plutonium research reactor fuel, currently at Dounreay, to Germany.

Brian Wilson: I understand that UKAEA intend to return the Kalkar SNR 300 fuel, which is the majority of German plutonium research reactor fuel at Dounreay, before the end of 2001. There are no plans for treating the Kalkar SNR 300 fuel at Dounreay.

Renewable Energy

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to encourage regional development agencies to promote the (a) manufacture and (b) installation of renewable energy technologies.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 2 July 2001
	The Department has provided financial support for regional studies of the potential for renewables throughout the UK. A number of the regional development authorities (RDAs) have been very actively involved in these assessments and some RDAs, including the Welsh Development Agency, have conducted their own studies with a focus on manufacturing and employment opportunities. On the basis of this involvement, the RDAs will be well placed to promote all aspects of renewable energy, in pursuance of regional targets.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Petrol Safety

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many petrol retailers have been prosecuted in each of the past five years for not reporting leakages from underground storage tanks.

Michael Meacher: The Environment Agency's prosecution database runs only from January 1999 and does not provide narrative in respect of prosecutions. The failure to report leakage from a storage tank would not therefore be specifically identified and case-by-case information would be disproportionately expensive to obtain. If leakage from a petrol tank occurred, a prosecution would be likely to be based on the leakage itself and the resulting pollution or a breach of a licence condition.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average valuation price was per bovine in each week of the current foot and mouth epidemic.

Elliot Morley: The information is not yet available in the form requested. The Department is currently preparing a database of detailed information on livestock valuations and I will right to the right hon. Member when I am able to provide the information.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many foreign vets, from which countries, have assisted the UK during the foot and mouth epidemic; and how many left the UK before receiving payment.

Elliot Morley: Foreign veterinary assistance has been provided in two ways. Governments have loaned state veterinarians to the Department. Terms and conditions were agreed with the relevant authorities in each country prior to the vets travelling to GB. Their salaries continue to be paid by the authorities in their own country.
	Other foreign vets have also been appointed as Temporary Veterinary Inspectors (TVIs). TVIs are paid a daily rate which is claimed retrospectively. The necessary details to allow payment of money due is requested at the time of appointment. Information concerning the timing of payments to individuals in relation to their date of departure from GB is not recorded.
	To date 463 veterinarians from the following countries have provided assistance during the FMD outbreak:
	Australia
	Bulgaria
	Canada
	Cuba
	Denmark
	Finland
	France
	Germany
	Hungary
	Iceland
	Ireland
	Israel
	Italy
	Netherlands
	New Zealand
	Norway
	Spain
	Sweden
	Switzerland
	USA.
	The number of foreign TVIs appointed is currently 375 and they come from one of the following countries:
	Australia
	Austria
	Belgium
	Canada
	Czech Republic
	Denmark
	Egypt
	France
	Germany
	Greece
	Ireland
	Israel
	Italy
	Namibia
	Netherlands
	New Zealand
	Norway
	Portugal
	South Africa
	Spain
	Sweden
	Zimbabwe.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many premises in Worcestershire were at any stage considered to be infected with foot and mouth disease; and of these, how many have subsequently been cleared following negative laboratory tests.

Elliot Morley: Information is available only for Hereford and Worcester. As of 26 June there were 66 Infected Premises (IPs). Of these, 43 were tested, of which 30 returned negative results. There were 17 slaughter- on-suspicion cases. Of these 16 were tested, all returned negative results.
	An Infected Premises is one where foot and mouth disease has either been diagnosed by a vet on the farm, supported by convincing clinical evidence, or where disease is found after testing. However, a negative laboratory result does not necessarily mean that the disease was not present and does not change the status of an Infected Premises.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps were taken to inform veterinary surgeons of discrepancies between clinical diagnosis of foot and mouth disease on farms and subsequent laboratory tests; on how many occasions such discrepancies occurred; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Almost all cases of foot and mouth disease during the current outbreak have been confirmed on clinical grounds. Although laboratory results are being monitored, it is important to remember that a negative laboratory test does not necessarily mean that the disease does not exist within the flock or herd. Guidance has been issued to staff to assist with clinical diagnosis, including advice on diseases or conditions which might involve symptoms similar to foot and mouth disease, particularly in sheep.

Pigswill

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risks of using pigswill prepared to the required standards; and if she will further review her Department's ban on the use of pigswill.

Elliot Morley: A veterinary assessment of the risks of using pigswill was made before the ban on swill-feeding was introduced. This assessment concluded that, owing to the recent foot and mouth disease outbreak, the disease risks from swill-feeding are very much greater than they were previously.
	No further review of the ban will be made as agreement was reached at the Agriculture Council on 19 June to introduce an EU wide ban on the feeding of swill to livestock.

Agriculture Council

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on 19 June was.

Margaret Beckett: I attended the meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in Luxembourg on 19 June.
	The Council adopted by qualified majority (Spain and Netherlands opposing) measures to tackle the problems in the EU beef market resulting from the discovery of BSE in certain continental countries late last year. I was pleased to secure important exemptions for United Kingdom farmers from the measures cutting back suckler cow production, in recognition of the particular impact of FMD, as well as rejection of the excessively bureaucratic proposals to impose individual farmer quotas on beef special premiums and to reimpose the 90 head limit on individual claims.
	The Council also adopted—by qualified majority with Spain opposing and Portugal abstaining—rules to restrict the use of close confinement stalls for sows. This brings other countries into line with conditions already applying here. It is an important and welcome step to improve pig welfare across the Community, albeit less radically than I would have preferred. The Council also resolved to improve the welfare of animals during transport, which I urged must be given effect speedily.
	I updated my colleagues on the latest situation on FMD in the UK. The Council also discussed further measures on BSE, as a result of which the Commission will enact a range of further controls including an extension to the current ban on the use of animal protein in animal feed.
	The Council unanimously adopted conclusions following up the Copenhagen Conference on organic food and farming, and setting the framework for the European Action Plan. It unanimously agreed proposals concerning the olive oil and hops regimes, inspection and control of animal feedingstuffs, a special aid scheme for small farmers and a common position on controlling undesirable substances in animal feed. By qualified majority, it agreed common positions on the processing, use and disposal of animal by-products and on classical swine fever (Germany and Austria opposing in both cases).

Landfill Tax (Fly-tipping)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has produced on changes in the incidence of fly-tipping following the increase in the level of the landfill tax; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Tidy Britain Group (TBG) has carried out three surveys to determine the effect, if any, of the landfill tax on fly-tipping. The TBG's most recent report, "Effects Of The Landfill Tax On Fly-Tipping (April 1997-March 1998)", confirmed that the type of waste most frequently fly-tipped is household waste. However, local authorities have a legal duty to collect household waste and householders are not directly affected by the landfill tax.
	The Fly-Tipping Forum, under the chairmanship of the Environment Agency, has commissioned research to assess the problem of fly-tipping on farm land. However, the survey which is an essential part of the project was suspended on the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth epidemic. The Forum will consider in the autumn whether it is then practicable to carry out the survey.
	The action being taken by the Government on fly- tipping, and other forms of unlawful waste disposal, was set out most recently in the Government's response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's Report on the Environment Agency (Cm 4832—paragraphs 55–60).

Air Pollution

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she is expected to make a statement on the Government's policy towards air pollution.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 3 July 2001
	The Government's policy towards air pollution is set out in the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, published in January 2000. The Strategy sets health-based standards for the eight air pollutants of most concern, as well as the Government's and devolved Administrations' air quality policy objectives for the short to medium term. We will also be consulting shortly on a number of new or revised objectives for certain pollutants. In doing so, we will take full account of the emerging evidence on the health effects of long-term exposure to air pollution.

Air Pollution

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which areas within the Yeovil constituency have air pollution above the Government's targeted limits; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: Local authorities across the country have been carrying out detailed studies of their local air quality over the past three years. Within the Yeovil constituency, the relevant authority (South Somerset district council) is undertaking a major study of air quality in Yeovil town centre, having identified some potential air pollution problems there. No other areas within the Yeovil constituency have so far been identified as having levels of air pollution which might exceed the nationally prescribed objectives.
	Within Yeovil town centre, South Somerset district council has identified a potential exceedence of the nationally prescribed objective for nitrogen dioxide in the vicinity of the A30/A37 hospital roundabout. A new monitoring station has therefore been installed in the grounds of the Yeovil district hospital, to measure levels of nitrogen dioxide and particles in the area of concern. I understand that South Somerset district council is due very shortly to publish an interim report giving the first detailed monitoring results from this station.

Illegal Meat Imports

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much illegal meat was imported into the UK and confiscated from ports and airports in the last 12 months; and if she will list the species of animal concerned.

Elliot Morley: A number of enforcement authorities are involved in the seizure of illegal imports of meat into the UK and no central records are kept of meat confiscated from ports and airports. As part of the new action across Government on illegal imports of animal products, we are developing mechanisms to centralise such records in future. Consolidated historical figures are not available but the information we have gathered to date indicates that in excess of 1,750 kg of illegal meat was confiscated from individuals during the financial year 2000–01 and that over 450 kg was seized from commercial consignments at Heathrow airport alone in the 12-month period from May 2000.

Illegal Meat Imports

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking to control the trade in smuggled meat, with particular reference to smuggling from countries with foot and mouth.

Elliot Morley: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is co-ordinating action across Government to ensure that rules governing both commercial and personal imports are enforced effectively at ports and airports. We have introduced improved publicity to ensure travellers are aware of the restrictions on what may be imported. Posters have been placed at main airports and information is being provided by the travel industry and FCO posts abroad. New arrangements have been introduced to improve sharing of information within Government on known or suspected illegal imports to enable enforcement authorities to better target their activities. In addition, the European Commission have agreed to give urgent attention to ensuring that the law on personal imports is clear and robust so that consistent and effective controls can be maintained across all the Community's borders.

Civil Servants

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants were employed by (a) the Department of the Environment and (b) the Ministry of Agriculture in April 1997.

Elliot Morley: In April 1997 the Department of Environment (Central) employed 3,180 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) civil servants; this does not include staff within its Agencies. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food employed 10,314 FTE civil servants, which includes staff in its Agencies.

Radioactive Waste

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the White Paper on radioactive waste.

Michael Meacher: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Green) on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 47W.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pensioners (Benefit Take-up)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of pensioners who are entitled to, but fail to claim, each benefit or allowance; what is the total annual amount which consequently remains unclaimed; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Available information on take-up of benefit can be found in "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up 1998–99", a copy of which is in the Library.

Pension Service

Kali Mountford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress to establish the new Pension Service.

Alistair Darling: The new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will bring together the Government's drive to help people get into work as well as to provide a better service for pensions and pensioners.
	The new Department will have two core operations to enable it to do this: Jobcentre Plus and the Pension Service.
	The Pension Service will offer a local service working in partnership with local authorities and voluntary organisations. To support the local service network, we will bring together the backroom processing in about 20 locations rather than over 400 at present, allowing frontline staff to concentrate on dealing with customers. For example, they will undertake outreach activity such as home visiting, private interviews in locations that suit pensioners and drop-in services.
	As we already process much of our pensions work for the whole of the UK in Newcastle, centralising processing work is a logical next step to support the national frontline network. Staff are being consulted and kept informed as plans develop.
	The proposed phase 1 locations are to be sited in Bath, Birmingham, Blackpool, Burnley, Cwmbran, Dundee, Glasgow, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, Stockton, Swansea, Walsall, Warrington, Wolverhampton, and Wrexham. Phase 2 locations will be announced in due course.

State Pension

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the total net cost, taking into account all offsetting benefit adjustments, of increasing the single person's basic state pension to (a) £90 per week, (b) £100 per week and (c) £110 per week, assuming the matching adjustments to pensions for couples; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We are providing significant extra help for all pensioners, including a £200 winter fuel payment and a minimum income guarantee of more than £92 a week for single pensioners. We have increased the basic state pension by £5 a week for single people and £8 a week for couples. In total, we are spending £4.4 billion more on pensioners in 2001–02 alone as a result of the changes that we have introduced.
	The table gives the cost of the options set out in the question in 2001–02 after income related benefit savings including linked benefits.
	
		
			 Basic state pension Net cost (£ billion) 
		
		
			 £90 per week 6.7 
			 £100 per week 10.7 
			 £110 per week 14.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Costs are rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion.
	2. Costs are given in current price terms.
	3. Net costs were estimated using the Policy Simulation Model.

Winter Fuel Payments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend entitlement to the winter heating allowance to people below retirement age who are unable to work because of disability; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Winter Fuel Payments are made to people aged 60 or over, so disabled people who fall into this age group are already eligible for the payments. There are no plans to extend the scheme to disabled people below age 60.
	Disabled people have available disability benefits in recognition of their extra costs. The care and mobility components in Disability Living Allowance are used as broad indicators of all the extra costs of a disabled person. These could include heating, laundry or special diets.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) made in each police force area in England and Wales to date.

John Denham: The available information is given in the table.
	
		Anti-social behaviour orders applied for and made between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2001 by police force area within England and Wales
		
			   Number made from  
			 Police force area Number of applications to 31 March 2001(1),(2) 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000(1) 1 June 2000 to 31 March 2001(2) Total 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 13 9 4 13 
			 Bedfordshire — — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire 5 5 — 5 
			 Cheshire — — — — 
			 Cleveland 5 1 3 4 
			 Cumbria 1 1 — 1 
			 Derbyshire 11 3 8 11 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3 1 2 3 
			 Dorset 2 — 2 2 
			 Durham 6 — 6 6 
			 Essex — — — — 
			 Gloucestershire 1 — 1 1 
			 Greater Manchester 13 10 3 13 
			 Hampshire 2 1 — 1 
			 Hertfordshire 5 1 4 5 
			 Humberside 10 — 10 10 
			 Kent 10 — 10 10 
			 Lancashire 12 5 7 12 
			 Leicestershire 1 1 — 1 
			 Lincolnshire — — — — 
			 Merseyside 12 8 — 8 
			 Metropolitan Police Service(3) 23 9 12 21 
			 Norfolk 10 6 4 10 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — 
			 Northumbria 12 8 4 12 
			 North Yorkshire 4 4 — 4 
			 Nottinghamshire 5 1 4 5 
			 South Yorkshire 4 3 1 4 
			 Staffordshire 2 — 2 2 
			 Suffolk 3 3 — 3 
			 Surrey 1 — 1 1 
			 Sussex 4 3 1 4 
			 Thames Valley 1 1 — 1 
			 Warwickshire 1 — 1 1 
			 West Mercia 12 5 7 12 
			 West Midlands 18 11 7 18 
			 West Yorkshire 9 4 5 9 
			 Wiltshire — — — — 
			  
			 England 221 104 109 213 
			  
			 Dyfed-Powys — — — — 
			 Gwent — — — — 
			 North Wales 1 — 1 1 
			 South Wales 1 — 1 1 
			  
			 Wales 2 — 2 2 
			  
			 England and Wales 223 104 111 215 
		
	
	(1) Based on data collected from ACPO and GLA trawls covering period 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000
	(2) Data collected centrally from magistrate courts committees as from 1 June 2000 onwards
	(3) Includes City of London
	
		Anti-social behaviour orders applied for by police force area within England and Wales
		
			 Police force area Up to May 2000 June 2000 Q3 2000 Q4 2000 Q1 2001 Total June 2000 to Q1 2001 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 9 — 2 — 2 13 4 
			 Bedfordshire — — — —  0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 5 — — — — 5 0 
			 Cheshire — — — — — 0 0 
			 Cleveland 1 — 3 — — 4 3 
			 Cumbria 1 — — — — 1 0 
			 Derbyshire 3 1 —— 6 1 11 8 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1 — — — 2 3 2 
			 Dorset — — 2 — — 2 2 
			 Durham — 1 1 2 2 6 6 
			 Essex — — — — — 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire — — — 1 — 1 1 
			 Greater Manchester 10 1 1 — 1 13 3 
			 Hampshire 1 — — — — 1 0 
			 Hertfordshire 1 — — — 4 5 4 
			 Humberside — 2 — 7 1 10 10 
			 Kent — — — 2 8 10 10 
			 Lancashire 5 — 2 3 2 12 7 
			 Leicestershire 1 — — — — 1 0 
			 Lincolnshire — — — — — 0 0 
			 Merseyside 8 — — — — 8 0 
			 Metropolitan Police 9 — 9 1 2 21 12 
			 Norfolk 6 — — — 4 10 4 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — 0 0 
			 Northumbria 8 — — 4 — 12 4 
			 North Yorkshire 4 — — — — 4 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 — 4 — — 5 4 
			 South Yorkshire 3 — — 1 — 4 1 
			 Staffordshire — — — — 2 2 2 
			 Suffolk 3 — — — — 3 0 
			 Surrey — — 1 — — 1 1 
			 Sussex 3 — — 1 — 4 1 
			 Thames Valley 1 — — — — 1 0 
			 Warwickshire — — 1 — — 1 1 
			 West Mercia 5 — 5 1 1 12 7 
			 West Midlands 11 3 1 2 1 18 7 
			 West Yorkshire 4 1 — — 4 9 5 
			 Wiltshire — — — — — 0 0 
			  
			 England 104 9 32 31 37 213 109 
			 
			 Dyfed-Powys — — — — — 0 0 
			 Gwent — — — — — 0 0 
			 North Wales — — — — — 0 0 
			 South Wales — — — — — 1 1 
			  
			 Wales — — — — — 1 1 
			 
			 England and Wales 104 9 33 31 37 214 110

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the Government's plans to establish anti-social behaviour units in each local authority; and what the cost to public funds will be.

John Denham: The report of policy action team 8, published in March 2000, recommended that a named person in each local authority district should co-ordinate action on anti-social behaviour and also encouraged the setting up of specialist teams to focus on anti-social behaviour. This second point has been reiterated in our manifesto. We think it important that each local authority district should have an effective means of tackling anti-social behaviour. The precise level of resources will vary from area to area depending on local need.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the Government's plans to increase the powers of and the resources available to HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

John Denham: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has a broad remit to inspect and report to the Secretary of State on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces in England and Wales, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service. Under the Local Government Act 1999 these powers were extended to cover the inspection of best value in police authorities. The Police Act 1996 provided that the Secretary of State may direct the inspectors of constabulary to carry out other duties for the purpose of furthering police efficiency and effectiveness. Under this provision, from April 2001, the inspectorate has additionally been tasked with inspecting, over a five-year period, every police basic command unit (BCU) in England and Wales. There are no plans at present to further increase the powers of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary.
	Budgetary allocation for the inspectorate in 2001–02 is just over £7.7 million. This includes £1 million for the additional costs associated with the BCU inspections.

Group Family Five Areas

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources have been allocated to each Group Family Five area; and what the level of crime is in each such area, broken down by standard category, since 1997.

John Denham: Resource allocation for basic command units within police forces is a matter for each chief constable. The information is not held centrally.
	Recorded crime statistics at basic command unit level are available from April 1999 onwards. They are contained in the Home Office Statistical Bulletins "Recorded Crime Statistics" published on 18 January 2000, 18 July 2000 and 16 January 2001, copies of which are available in the Library.

James Ashley

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for a public inquiry into the fatal shooting of James Ashley by police on 15 January 1998; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: In the debate on the Address on 27 June, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary said he hoped that with the continuing work of the Police Complaints Authority and the considerable help of the Police Authority itself, we will be able to make sense of the matter without a further public inquiry.
	It will be important to ensure that all necessary lessons are learnt from this tragic incident so that the possibility of similar events taking place in Sussex or other forces are minimised.
	I will want to listen to the concerns of the Ashley family, and I will be meeting them on 4 July.

Postal Robberies

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many robberies of (a) post offices and (b) Royal Mail vehicles there were in each police division in the year 2000; and if he will estimate the total sum stolen.

John Denham: The requested information is not collected centrally. Data for recorded robberies involving the use of firearms indicate that there were 315 such robberies in post offices in the year ending March 2000. No details of the sums stolen are available.

Police Numbers (North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in North Yorkshire on (a) 1 May 1997, (b) 1 May 1998, (c) 1 May 1999, (d) 1 May 2000, (e) 1 May 2001, (f) projected figures for 1 May 2002 and (g) 1 May 2003.

John Denham: Police numbers are normally reported half-yearly, for 30 September and 31 March. Figures for North Yorkshire from 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2001, the most recent figures available, are given in the table.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 31 March 1997 1,338 
			 31 March 1998 1,367 
			 31 March 1999 1,337 
			 31 March 2000 1,283 
			 31 March 2001 1,305 
		
	
	North Yorkshire police estimate that officer numbers will reach 1,420 by March 2002. The force has no projections for the following year.

Huntingdon Life Sciences

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the procedures for protecting the staff of Huntingdon Life Sciences.

John Denham: holding answer 3 July 2001
	It would not be in the interests of those concerned to offer such an assessment.

Police Pensions

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to reform the criteria for awards of medical pensions in the police.

John Denham: holding answer 3 July 2001
	I will be considering a number of issues in relation to medical pensions within the police pension scheme in the coming months.

HMP Garth

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact in the reduction in the number of prison officers at HMP Garth on the rehabilitation programme for sex offenders.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 3 July 2001
	Her Majesty's Prison Garth does not hold sex offenders for long periods of time and therefore there is no rehabilitation programme for sex offenders at Garth prison. The sex offender treatment programme (SOTP) does operate at Wymott prison, which is adjacent to Garth. The proposed reduction in the number of prison officers at Wymott will not have any impact on completion of SOTP courses.

Certificate of Identity

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  which European Union member states refuse to accept the certificate of identity as a valid travel document;
	(2)  how many certificates of identity were issued between 1 May 1997 and 7 June 2001 to grantees of exceptional leave to remain.

Angela Eagle: The Home Office certificate of identity (CID) is a travel document issued to foreign nationals who are resident in the United Kingdom and cannot obtain a passport from their national authorities. The majority of people issued with CIDs have applied unsuccessfully for asylum, but subsequently been granted exceptional leave to remain for a limited period. Between 1 May 1997 and 7 June 2001, the Home Office issued 58,454 CIDs. Separate records are not kept of the number of CIDs issued to persons with current exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom as opposed to those with indefinite leave to remain.
	The certificate of identity is issued on a discretionary basis, not under an international convention. European Union member states are not obliged to recognise the document. Those member states which do not do so, and generally do not issue travel visas to CID holders, include France, Germany, Greece and Spain.

Sexual Offences

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to announce his conclusions following public consultation on possible changes to the law on sexual offences.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 3 July 2001
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 27 June 2001, Official Report, column 99W.

Police Reform

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to reform police practices, specifying which reforms will and will not require primary legislation.

John Denham: The police reform programme will deliver a modern police service providing the highest standards of detective capability, public reassurance, scientific and technical support, leadership, and modern working practices to secure reductions in crime and in the fear of crime. Discussions are continuing with representative police organisations to determine the best ways of delivering these goals and identify where legislation is required.

Illegal Drugs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the severity of sentencing for individuals found in possession of larger quantities of illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Bradley: Within the broad statutory limits set by Parliament, sentences in individual cases are a matter for the courts alone, taking into account all the circumstances of the offences and the offender, including all mitigating and aggravating factors. The current maximum penalties for possession of controlled drugs are seven years, five years and two years respectively for class A, B and C. The Government believe these maximum penalties are appropriate and have no plans to increase them.

Illegal Drugs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to establish an independent inquiry into the classification of illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I have no such plans. There is already a statutory, independent body to advise the Government on the classification of illegal drugs—the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).

Avon and Somerset Police

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the ratio was between the number of police officers and notifiable offences in Avon and Somerset for each year from 1980 to 2001; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The information requested is given in the table. Recorded crime figures for the year ending 31 March 2001 are not currently available.
	
		Avon and Somerset
		
			 Year Recorded crimes per police officer 
		
		
			 1980 20 
			 1981 21 
			 1982 23 
			 1983 23 
			 1984 25 
			 1985 27 
			 1986 31 
			 1987 33 
			 1988 33 
			 1989 33 
			 1990 42 
			 1991 50 
			 1992 57 
			 1993 58 
			 1994 56 
			 1995 51 
			 1996 53 
			 1997 48 
			 1997–98(4) 49 
			 1998–99(4),(5) 50 
			 1999–2000(4),(5) 50 
		
	
	(4) Recorded crime data expressed on a financial year basis.
	(5) Revised rules for recording crime were introduced on 1 April 1998. The ratios before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.

Metropolitan Police

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the numerical strength of police officers in the London Metropolitan police area in (a) April 2000 and (b) April 2001; and how many officers (i) have been recruited to the Metropolitan police and (ii) have left the service since 1 April 2001.

John Denham: holding answer 3 July 2001
	The Metropolitan police had 25,485 police officers on 31 March 2000 and 24,878 officers on 31 March 2001. Most of the decrease of 607 officers can be attributed to the reduction in the size of the Metropolitan police district following the boundary changes with Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey on 1 April 2000.
	I am told by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that 412 officers were recruited in April and May of this year. 264 left in the same period.

Young Offenders

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted juveniles aged 15 and 16 years have been given (a) a custodial sentence and (b) a non-custodial sentence in each of the past 10 years; and what has been the reconviction rate in each category.

Beverley Hughes: Data on custodial and non-custodial sentences imposed on 15 and 16-year-olds for standard list offences between 1990 and 1999 are shown in table 1. Reconviction rates for male offenders aged 16 and under at time of sentence and subsequently reconvicted for a standard list offence within two years of discharge from a custodial sentence between 1987 and 1997 are shown in table 2.
	Reconviction rates for non-custodial sentences for 15 and 16-year-olds have not routinely been collected. However from a sample of 15 and 16-year-old offenders sentenced during the first half of 1997, 76 per cent. of those given a community penalty and 63 per cent. of those given a fine, discharge or other type of sentence were reconvicted within two years of sentence. Reconviction rates monitoring performance under public service agreement target 10 will be published as a national statistic in due course.
	
		Table 1: number of persons aged 15 and 16 sentenced at all courts for standard list offences, England and Wales 1990–99
		
			Non-custodial sentence  
			  Total sentenced Immediate custodial sentence Community penalty Other non- custodial sentence 
		
		
			 1990 24,039 1,683 9,257 13,099 
			 1991 21,825 1,739 8,927 11,159 
			 1992 19,372 1,591 7,921 9,860 
			 1993 18,360 1,880 7,691 8,789 
			 1994 22,820 2,299 9,630 10,891 
			 1995 25,457 2,634 10,736 12,087 
			 1996 27,224 3,056 11,673 12,495 
			 1997 27,956 3,235 12,161 12,560 
			 1998 29,983 3,273 13,262 13,448 
			 1999 31,393 3,406 13,624 14,363 
		
	
	
		Table 2: percentage of young males, aged 16 or under at age of sentence, who were reconvicted for a standard list offence within two years of discharge from custody, England and Wales 1987–97
		
			  Percentage reconvicted 
		
		
			 1987 83 
			 1988 83 
			 1989 86 
			 1990 89 
			 1991 88 
			 1992 89 
			 1993 89 
			 1994 88 
			 1995 88 
			 1996 85 
			 1997 84

Foot and Mouth

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases in each police authority have been investigated relating to the deliberate infecting of farms with foot and mouth disease since 21 February.

John Denham: This information is not collected centrally.

Asylum Support

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the findings of his Department's review of the asylum voucher system.

Angela Eagle: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 50W.

Rural Crime (Leicestershire)

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to reduce crime in rural areas, with particular reference to Leicestershire.

John Denham: Tackling crime and the fear of crime is a clear priority for this Government. It applies to all areas, whether suburban, rural or inner-city, and our approach is to assist the police and the local crime and disorder partnerships to address local crime effectively.
	We are providing increased funding for police forces covering rural areas to take account of the additional costs involved: £30 million is being allocated to 31 forces this year. The allocation for Leicestershire police is £433,516. In addition, the rural crime toolkit, on the Home Office's crime reduction website, provides a new resource to help local partnerships to address crime in rural areas.
	The nine crime and disorder partnerships in Leicestershire are supporting a varied programme of crime reduction initiatives and projects as part of the Government's crime reduction programme. Each of the partnerships is being provided with £10,000 from the crime reduction programme this year to help them to improve their performance in tackling crime in their areas. In addition, the partnerships in Leicestershire have received money to support closed circuit television initiatives, and they have been allocated £565,000 this year to tackle drug related crime. In November last year, Leicestershire received £341,000 for a project to tackle burglary in Leicester as part of the reducing burglary initiative, and £168,000 was awarded to eight forces, including Leicestershire, to tackle distraction burglary in central and eastern England as part of the targeted policing initiative.

Asylum Seekers

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the method for recording failed asylum seekers as leaving the country was changed to include dependants in the total figures; when the change in recording measures was published; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: Statistics concerning asylum applications have been published since 1992. Separate figures are given both for principal applicants only, and for principal applicants and dependants; and cover the period from 1984 to the present. The information is published in the annual Home Office statistical bulletins entitled "Asylum Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	Statistics concerning asylum removals published before March 2001 have given figures for principal applicants only. From April 2001, the figures show the total number of failed asylum seekers removed, including dependants. This is to reflect the change in the removals target for failed asylum seekers for 2001–02 which is expressed in terms of the total figure for the first time. The change is intended to give a more informed picture of the number of people being removed from the United Kingdom as a result of failed asylum applications and to give a fairer reflection of the activity involved in enforcing their departure. The details were published in December 2000.
	The removals target is equivalent to some 24,000 principal applicants and 6,000 dependants, although the number of dependants removed will vary according to the balance between individuals and families as well as family size, and is difficult to predict. The 30,000 target has always been extremely ambitious and high risk; no European country has achieved levels of this kind. We are investing substantial additional resources, and the programme to increase the numbers is continuing. I will be monitoring the position closely.
	Despite these difficulties, the Government are committed to increasing the number of failed asylum seekers who are removed from the United Kingdom. The Labour manifesto said that in excess of 30,000 people who had not justified their claim would be removed in 2003–04, which is about 2,500 people a month. We have decided that that monthly target must be met by early next year, which enables us to have a commitment to reach and exceed 30,000 removals by 2003.

Corporate Killing

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the findings of his consultation exercise on the reform of the laws governing corporate killing.

Keith Bradley: As I set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 26 June 2001, Official Report, column 82W, we will publish the findings of our consultation exercise on reforming the law on involuntary manslaughter as soon as we have completed consideration of the responses received. We are determined to bring forward clear and workable legislation that will hold undertakings to account for serious wrongdoing. The consultation exercise has allowed us to meet with interested parties and consider this difficult area in detail.
	The Government remain committed to the introduction of an offence of corporate killing. We will honour our manifesto commitment to reform the law to make provisions against corporate manslaughter.

Police Career Management

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to adopt mid-career exit points for police, in line with the armed services.

John Denham: "Criminal Justice: The Way Ahead", presented to Parliament in February by my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary, referred to the need for more flexible career management in the police service. We are currently discussing with the police service how to tackle this and other issues.

Marsham Street

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of maintaining the former Department of the Environment buildings at Marsham street has been in each year since 1997; and what the anticipated cost is in the forthcoming year.

David Blunkett: The management and maintenance of the former Department of the Environment buildings at 2 Marsham street became the responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 1 April 1999. The intention is to provide new accommodation on this site as part of the Home Office central London accommodation strategy. Since 1 April 1999, the cost of maintenance for each year excluding value added tax has been:
	£479,000 for 1999–2000
	£388,000 for 2000–01 and the provisional budget for part 2001–02 is £290,000.
	The existing buildings at 2 Marsham street are not empty, as there is a permanent team on site carrying out minimum health and safety maintenance. The Home Office has allowed a number of fee-paying temporary uses of these buildings and car park areas. One such use has been a temporary winter shelter under the rough sleepers initiative.

Sentencing Reform

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on proposals for sentencing reform.

David Blunkett: I will be publishing the report of a review of the sentencing framework at 9:30 a.m. on 5 July, copies of which will be available in the Vote Office and placed in the Library. The review was announced in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope), 16 May 2000, Official Report, column 71W. The review, which was led by John Halliday—a senior official in the Home Office who has now retired—was established to consider what principles should guide sentencing decisions and what types of disposal should be made available to the courts so as more effectively to reduce reoffending.
	The report, which is a very thorough and thought- provoking document, was presented to Ministers on 1 May.
	The report contains a number of interesting proposals and recommendations, which the Government will consider very carefully. The review was conducted in an open and inclusive way and, in line with what I said in the House on 27 June 2001, Official Report, column 663, I want to build upon that process by inviting views on the report's recommendations before reaching final conclusions ourselves. I will be asking for initial comments by 31 October 2001 and, in the meantime, the Government will be examining the proposals in more detail. I will make a further statement to Parliament when the Government have considered the responses received during the consultation period.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Insurance Scheme

Margaret Moran: To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to extend the insurance scheme agreed by the House on 23 May 2000.

Robin Cook: On 23 May 2000, the House resolved that an insurance scheme should be established to cover claims against Members in respect of defamation claims. It has since become apparent that similar insurance is needed in respect of claims of negligence, the risk of which applies to all Members, and the motion on allowances arising from the SSRB report on parliamentary pay and allowances, which I tabled on Monday, would, if agreed by the House in the debate tomorrow, Thursday 5 July, enable this.
	The House will wish to be aware that a specific case has already arisen, and I have tabled a motion to enable the House to reimburse my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) in respect of reasonable legal expenditure including damages arising in consequence of an action against him alleging vicarious liability for an act of negligence committed in the course of his duties as a Member of this House.
	The claim arises from legal proceedings against my right hon. Friend for Blackburn (as the second defendant) and the Blackburn with Darwen borough council (as the first defendant) by a constituent alleging, in respect of my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn, vicarious liability on his part for an act of negligence by a member of his staff (who for unrelated reasons subsequently left his employment) committed in the course of his duties as a Member of this House.
	The constituent claims damages exceeding £50,000 for, among other matters, losses on the value of his property and for personal injury, distress and inconvenience (as well as his legal costs), which he claims are attributable to the release from the constituency office of my right hon. Friend of information which he had provided to it.
	The motion I tabled last night would, if agreed by the House following the debate on Thursday 5 July, provide for my right hon. Friend to be reimbursed his reasonable legal expenditure, including damages, already incurred and to be incurred in this instance.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

National Lottery

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which constituencies have received (a) less than 10 per cent. and (b) less than 15 per cent. of the national average for constituencies of grants to good causes from the national lottery.

Richard Caborn: My Department's national lottery awards database allocates awards to constituencies based on the postcodes for the project or applicant supplied by the national lottery distributing bodies. According to the figures on this database, the following constituencies have received less than 10 per cent. of the average (mean) value of awards by constituency:
	Denton and Reddish
	Hayes and Harlington
	Billericay
	Southend, West
	Hornchurch
	Morley and Rothwell
	Birmingham, Hall Green
	Doncaster, North
	Bexleyheath and Crayford
	Birmingham, Northfield
	Birmingham, Erdington
	Normanton
	Croydon, South
	Romford
	Castle Point.
	In addition, the following constituencies have received less than 15 per cent. (but more than 10 per cent.) of the mean:
	Chingford and Woodford Green
	Broxtowe
	Birmingham, Hodge Hill
	Cannock Chase
	Wentworth
	Walsall, North
	Wirral, West
	Ruislip-Northwood
	Hamilton, South
	Makerfield
	Reigate
	Airdrie and Shotts
	Reading, West
	Worthing, West
	Newport, East
	Gedling
	Haltemprice and Howden
	Crawley
	Redditch
	Tamworth
	Brent, North
	Meriden
	Blackpool, North and Fleetwood
	South-West Bedfordshire
	Cheadle.

National Lottery

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements are made to monitor the distribution of national Lottery funds.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's directions to the national lottery distributing bodies (issued under section 26(3) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993) require them to institute systems of project monitoring. They are also required to publish details of their monitoring activities in their annual reports (copies of which are placed in the Library of the House). My Department collects details of all national lottery grant awards and places them on the national lottery awards database, which is available via the Department's website www.culture.gov.uk.

National Lottery

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the disparities between constituencies of grants to good causes from the national lottery.

Richard Caborn: The Government are keen to see all areas receive a fair share of funding. Reforms introduced under the National Lottery Act 1998, the revised policy directions issued to lottery distributors in the same year, and targeted programmes introduced by distributors, such as the Community Fund' s Priority Areas Initiative, were designed to reduced these disparities and there has been some improvement. We recognise, however, that there is still more to be done and that is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 27 June the new £150 million initiative to target funds at some 50 areas which are both deprived and have received less lottery funding than other parts of the country.

National Lottery

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidelines are set for the creation and distribution of the national lottery community first fund.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the community fund to target £100 million of its funds, and the new opportunities fund to target an additional £50 million to some 50 areas which are both deprived and have received less lottery funding than other parts of the country. The community fund and the new opportunities fund will use their knowledge and experience to develop the detailed arrangements for the scheme and will take the lead in determining the areas to be targeted. The scheme will be UK-wide and will begin in April 2002.

National Lottery

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures have been put in place to promote applications to the national lottery community fund from the areas the fund is designed to assist.

Richard Caborn: Measures to promote applications from the areas to be targeted under this new £150 million initiative will be developed by the community fund and the new opportunities fund in time for the start of the programme in April 2002.

National Lottery

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the money raised from the national lottery has been used (a) in the NHS and (b) in schools; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Government are committed to the principle that lottery money should add to and not substitute for existing Government expenditure. Lottery funding has been used to fund projects in the NHS and schools which are additional to their core functions. According to information received from the distributors, 1.7 per cent. of the money raised by the national lottery has been allocated to projects in the NHS and 3.0 per cent. has been allocated to projects in schools.

National Lottery

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been raised each year from the national lottery, for each category of good cause, since the establishment of the national lottery; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The amounts raised for each good cause, including interest, in each financial year since the start of the lottery are shown in the following table.
	
		£000 
		
			   Arts Sport Heritage Charities Millennium projects Health, education and environment projects(6) 
		
		
			 1994–95 58,523 58,518 58,522 58,535 59,649 — 
			 1995–96 302,277 302,392 301,679 302,909 303,167 — 
			 1996–97 312,294 313,946 313,816 313,979 318,078 — 
			 1997–87 358,413 368,154 370,694 366,205 402,696 107,743 
			 1998–99 284,923 306,710 315,022 304,414 397,145 330,442 
			 1999–2000 262,926 273,172 287,593 275,487 349,839 302,559 
			 2000–01 285,403 298,411 321,859 295,433 345,093 243,245 
		
	
	(6) Includes £200 million for the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts

Foot and Mouth

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to providing further assistance to UK tourism following the foot and mouth outbreak.

Kim Howells: I am in close and regular contact with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on issues relating to the impact of foot and mouth disease on tourism, including the provision of assistance to affected businesses. For example, I attended the meeting of the Rural Task Force on 26 June where these issues were discussed.

Spoliation

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Spoliation Committee regarding the return of looted cultural property.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 June 2001
	The Spoliation Advisory Panel, under the chairmanship of retired Lord Justice of Appeal, the right hon. Sir David Hirst, announced on 18 January 2001 its first report (HC 111) on a claim to "A View of Hampton Court Palace" by Jan Griffier the Elder in Tate Britain. The report made two recommendations, both of which related to the Griffier painting, and these have been accepted and implemented. No recommendations concerning legislation were made.

Sports Grounds

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to improve the safety of sports grounds.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 June 2001
	I intend to keep the operation of the legislative framework for sports ground safety under review, and the culture and recreation Bill will be re-introduced as soon as this is practicable. The Government expect that the Bill will re-constitute the Football Licensing Authority as the sports ground safety authority, which will be able to advise local authorities and others on safety issues at all sports grounds.

Departmental Responsibilities

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the areas of responsibility that have (a) been transferred from her Department to other departments and (b) been transferred to her Department from other departments since 8 June.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 June 2001
	None of my Department's responsibilities have been transferred to other departments. My Department has, however, taken on responsibility for the following areas from the Home Office: gambling; horseracing; licensing; censorship and film classification; and, planning for the Golden Jubilee.

Community Sports Clubs

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to introduce charitable status for community sports clubs.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 June 2001
	The Government have no current plans to introduce legislation to extend charitable status to community sports clubs. However, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Budget statement the Government's intention to consult on the best way for a tax relief to help community amateur sports clubs that make a positive contribution to the local community. My officials and their Treasury and Inland Revenue colleagues are in discussions with sporting organisations including Sport England, the Central Council for Physical Recreation and the National Playing Fields Association on the detail of this relief. A consultation paper will be published later this year.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Debt Relief

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her assessment is of the impact of measures taken to alleviate indebtedness in the poorest countries.

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made by her Department in reducing third-world debt.

Clare Short: Twenty three countries have now qualified for exceptional relief under the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. Over $53 billion of debt relief has been agreed for these countries, which will reduce their debts by almost two-thirds on average. The money released is directly linked to poverty reduction. The impact of this debt reduction means that, after debt relief, social expenditures in these HIPC countries are projected to rise by an average of some US$1.7 billion per year during 2001–02. We hope more countries will qualify for relief this year, but many of the remaining countries are affected by conflict or have yet to demonstrate their commitment to reform.

Aid Target

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the proportion of GNP given in official aid was over the course of each of the last two Parliaments.

Clare Short: Under the last Conservative Administration the oda/GNP ratio fell from 0.30 per cent. in 1992 to 0.27 per cent. in 1996. In the last Parliament the ratio rose to 0.31 in 2000. We have made a commitment to reach a level of 0.33 per cent. oda/GNP by 2003–04 a level not seen in the UK since the mid 1980s.

Street Children

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects she is supporting relating to street children.

Clare Short: Children live on the streets because of poverty. By tackling the underlying causes of poverty and social injustice, we help to realise of the rights of all children, including street children, to health, education and protection from violence.
	In addition we support a number of projects that work directly with street children. We are currently supporting projects in Brazil, Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Burma, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

St. Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects to make an announcement on the feasibility study for an airfield on the island of St. Helena.

Clare Short: The final report of the comparative study of air and sea access, which will identify the least cost solution to the island's future international passenger and cargo transport needs, has just been finalised. Its recommendations will be discussed with the St. Helena Government next week. We have agreed to provide funding equal to the least capital cost option—that is either the cost of replacing the RMS St. Helena or the estimated cost of an airport and related infrastructure.
	Copies of the report are being placed in the Library of the House.

Zimbabwe

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what actions she proposes to promote good governance in Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: We are working through direct contact with the Commonwealth and the European Union to promote a return to good governance and the holding of a free and fair presidential election next year. We have made it clear that increased UK development support depends on a return to the rule of law and the adoption of credible economic policies. We are also working with Zimbabwean civil society organisations that are advocating good governance.

Zimbabwe

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on British aid to Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: Our efforts are focused on mitigating the effects of the current crisis on the poorest, whose plight continues to worsen. We are also continuing with our work to combat HIV/AIDS. We are working with non-governmental organisations to try to ensure we can protect the poorest—particularly children—from likely food shortages later in the year.

Zimbabwe

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received about funding of projects in Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: My Department receives a large number of requests for funding in Zimbabwe, as in other countries in which we work. Most recently, we have received a number of approaches from international non- governmental organisations. They are seeking our support to protect the poor—particularly children—from likely food shortages later in the year. We are working with them to develop and implement their proposals.

Zimbabwe

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with other European states regarding the future of aid to Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: We have on-going contracts at various levels with other European Governments to discuss development assistance in Zimbabwe. In addition, there is joint political dialogue between the EU and the Government of Zimbabwe under article 8 of the Cotonou agreement. We support the EU in seeking results on key governance issues; and agree that appropriate measures will be needed if the dialogue does not yield rapid results over the next two months.

Gujarat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the Indian Government about further assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake in Gujarat.

Clare Short: My Department is in active discussions with the Indian Government regarding the possibility of our providing assistance to help strengthen disaster management arrangements in the country, in the wake of the Gujarat earthquake and other major disasters. To this end, an expert DFID team has recently visited India to assess the current situation and will be putting forward recommendations shortly.
	Our priority has been to ensure that those who survived the earthquake were cared for until normal services were restored. In my statement to the House on Monday 29 January, I announced an overall allocation of up to £10 million to support the emergency relief efforts in Gujarat without reducing spending in other parts of India. To date nearly £9 million of the total allocation has been disbursed. We are considering allocating the balance to help strengthen natural disaster management capacity.

Good Governance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to encourage improved governance in developing countries in receipt of British aid.

Clare Short: Our strategy on good governance is outlined in the consultation document "Making Government Work for Poor People", which was placed in the Libraries of both Houses in June 2000. We have made commitments of £650 million for the period 1997–98 to 2000–01 to programmes where governance was a principal element. A further £1.3 billion was committed over the same period on programmes where governance was a significant element.

Trade Negotiations

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she has given to developing countries to enable them to represent their interests at international negotiations about trade.

Clare Short: Currently the WTO is hosting negotiations on trade in services and in agricultural products. For agriculture, we are funding a consultant at the South Centre to assist developing countries develop negotiating proposals. We are in the process of establishing a scheme with UNCTAD to provide assistance for developing countries for the services negotiations. We aim to add to the work that the WTO Secretariat and the EU's new ACP office do for countries with low representation at the WTO by strengthening the work that organisations like the Commonwealth Secretariat and AITIC undertake. An important element of beneficial representation at the WTO is good trade policy capacity in capitals. We are running many programmes in developing countries to build such capacity.

Ilisu Dam

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's involvement in decisions on granting export credit for the proposed Ilisu hydro-electric dam in Turkey.

Clare Short: DFID was first consulted about this project as a part of ECGD's wider Whitehall consultation in January 1999. At the beginning of that year, DFID commented on ECGD's terms of reference for an independent review of environmental and resettlement impact reports produced by the project sponsors. Turkey is not a priority country for DFID and since mid-July 1999 DFID has had no further advisory input into any decisions on the project.

HIV/AIDS (Sub-Saharan Africa)

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her policy on combating HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

Clare Short: HIV/AIDS is the single most important development challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. The epidemic is undermining economic growth and fundamentally threatens social and economic development in many countries in the region. We know what needs to be done to tackle the disease, and I strongly believe that commitments by the international community must now be transformed into a worldwide effort to contain the spread of the disease.
	DFID continues to give greatest priority to prevention, but we also place great emphasis on reducing the personal, social and economic impact of illness and death caused by the disease.
	As national strategic plans to tackle the epidemic improve, we have begun to place our support within the framework of those plans. For example, we have recently approved significant HIV/AIDS related programmes in support of the national response in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe totalling over £60 million, and a £20 million programme is being designed to support Mozambique. A new programme for South Africa is also planned for this year. We have also committed £25 million to support the International Partnership Against AIDS in Africa, and £7.5 million to a regional initiative on HIV/AIDS with the Southern Africa Development Community.
	In addition, the Government are exploring the potential of a number of options for increasing the long-term affordability and availability of treatment for HIV/AIDS and related infections which will benefit sub-Saharan Africa, while maintaining a focus on the development of long-term sustainable health systems which is needed to deliver them.

Nepal

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much bilateral aid was granted to Nepal in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Clare Short: The total bilateral aid given by HMG to Nepal in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1996–97 15,562 
			 1997–98 17,280 
			 1998–99 16,627 
			 1999–2000 15,989 
			 2000–01 (7)17,165 
		
	
	(7) Provisional

Palestinian Authority

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about UK aid to the Palestinian Authority.

Clare Short: Britain is providing assistance to the Palestinian Authority to help reduce poverty and support democratic and accountable government in the West Bank and Gaza.
	Palestinians are suffering badly from the effects of the current conflict and the economic sanctions imposed by Israel.

Tibet

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she last had discussions with the Chinese Government regarding human rights abuses in Tibet.

Clare Short: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office leads for British Government on the dialogue on human rights in China and raises this regularly with the Chinese Government. In addition to those held at the multilateral and European levels, discussions on human rights are taken forward at the UK-China human rights dialogue, last held in February 2001.
	During my last visit to China in October 2000, I discussed a number of issues with the Chinese Government, including human rights. My Department's main concern is to help those people in all parts of China who live in abject poverty. Since 1978, China has experienced a remarkable reduction in poverty, and continues to achieve impressive social indicators, for example low child mortality and high rates of enrolment in primary education. There has been a significant improvement in respect for the economic and social rights of the poor in China. We will continue to press the case for more progress on civil and political rights.

Civil Society Programmes (South-eastern Europe)

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to develop civil society programmes that will contribute to stability in south-eastern Europe.

Clare Short: Strengthening of the role of civil society is one of the main objectives of our programmes in south-eastern Europe.
	In Serbia we are designing a major project to assist co-operation between civil society and government in service delivery. In Croatia we have agreed a programme of support to the Government Office for NGOs, support to civil society co-operation with government and to evaluation of government grants to NGOs. In Albania and Bosnia Herzegovina we are supporting major social policy projects, which include the involvement of civil society in design and delivery of programmes. In Albania we have also assisted with the government's arrangements for consultation with civil society on its poverty reduction strategy. In Macedonia we are working with civil society agencies to develop a network of citizens advice and information services.

Refugees (Middle East)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support Her Majesty's Government will give to refugees and refugee resettlement in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

Clare Short: We have increased our support to UNRWA to help with both its regular operations and its special measures to address the growing social and economic hardship in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Our contributions in 2001 will exceed £18 million.

Tanzania

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her recent visit to Tanzania.

Clare Short: I last visited Tanzania in April 2000. I hope to do so again later in July.

Poverty Reduction

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will promote partnership programmes with individual developing countries committed to poverty reduction.

Clare Short: Partnerships with developing countries committed to poverty reduction form the cornerstone of our efforts to eliminate poverty. DFID is working with others to help partner country governments draw up nationally owned and led poverty reduction strategies. These strategies provide a framework for international efforts to help tackle poverty and for DFID's work in the majority of our major partner countries.

Global Health Fund

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the global health fund.

Clare Short: The fund is designed to make available drugs and commodities for the prevention and treatment of Malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS, in the poorest countries. We believe a purchasing fund will increase reliability of supply, reduce prices and encourage research leading to the production of new treatments. It will also help leverage the development of better delivery systems so that poor people get access to available drugs.

HEALTH

TB Case, Barnet Hospital

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement concerning the risk to patients and the contraction of TB by a patient at Barnet hospital from another patient.

Yvette Cooper: In line with departmental recommendations, Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals NHS trust has an infection control policy that covers the situations in which it is necessary for patients to be nursed in isolation. This includes patients who are thought likely to have the more infectious forms of tuberculosis.
	Patients are placed in their own room and are asked not to leave the room unnecessarily and not to have contact with other patients. Staff entering the room wear disposable gowns and gloves to prevent the spread of infection.
	A long-term patient at Barnet hospital was recently found, following a routine test, to have contracted TB. It is possible that the TB had been dormant in the patient for some time. The patient was immediately put in a side room. Once it became apparent that the patient had contracted TB, 23 patients were recalled for testing. None of them has contracted the disease. However, 10 higher risk individuals are having follow-up tests as a precautionary measure. The trust is managing this incident in liaison with the communicable disease surveillance centre.

CFS/ME

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many specialist clinics for myalgic encephalitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome have (a) outreach/mobile units for severe housebound/bedbound sufferers and (b) in- patient ward facilities; and what the average size of such units and facilities is;
	(2)  how many NHS specialist clinics there are in the United Kingdom for sufferers from myalgic encephalitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally.
	The national health service provides a considerable number of services which people who have chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) can access. These patients are seen within a wide range of hospital specialties including general medicine, neurology and immunology. The CFS/ME working group is developing guidance to improve the quality of care for CFS/ME patients.

CFS/ME

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers there are in (a) Cambridgeshire, (b) Lincolnshire and (c) Northamptonshire;
	(2)  how many designated myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome specialists there are in the (a) Cambridgeshire, (b) Lincolnshire and (c) Northamptonshire health authority areas.

Yvette Cooper: We do not collect information centrally on the incidence of individual diseases. It is estimated however, that up to one or two people in every thousand may have the illness, with numbers peaking in the 20–40 age group.
	Information on the numbers of myalgic encephalitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) specialists is not available as CFS/ME is not classed as a specialty.
	The National Health Service provides a considerable number of services which people suffering from CFS/ME access. These patients are seen within a wide range of hospital specialties including general medicine, neurology and immunology. The CFS/ME working group is developing guidance to improve the quality of care for CFS/ME patients.

Draft Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received regarding the omission of health visitors from the draft Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 under section 62(9) of the Health Act 1999;
	(2)  if he intends to amend the draft Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 under section 62(9) of the Health Act 1999 to include health visitors;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the reasons for the omission of health visitors from the draft Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 under section 62(9) of the Health Act 1999.

John Hutton: Consultation on the draft order ended on 1 July. A wide range of organisations and individuals have commented on various aspects of the draft order. We will give careful consideration to all comments received before finally putting forward legislation for parliamentary approval.
	Health visitors will continue to be regulated as part of the nursing and midwifery professions but with the capacity to recognise their special contribution to public health. The draft legislation contains several safeguards for health visiting. Health visitors will have a separate register, protection of their professional title and be guaranteed equal representation on the council with nurses and midwives, and from each United Kingdom country.

Draft Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations he has received in respect of the draft Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001, part III, article 8;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to ensure that the final version of the draft Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001, part III, article 8, does not require the disclosure of the personal address details of people on the register.

John Hutton: Consultation on the draft order continues ended on 1 July. A range of organisations and individuals have commented on aspects of the draft order.
	The draft legislation does not require the publication of home addresses of registrants on the register.
	The proposals make it clear that it will be for the new Nursing and Midwifery Council to decide what details appear on the register. The new council will have a duty to have proper regard to the interests of all registrants and prospective registrants, and will be required to consult on its plans beforehand.

GM Food

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure the labelling of processed food products includes the mention of genetically modified organisms where they are used.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 28 June 2001
	The Genetically Modified Novel Foods (labelling) Regulations 2000 require foods containing genetically modified (GM) material (DNA or protein) to be labelled. The European Commission is expected to issue proposals shortly to extend the current labelling rules to require all ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms whether or not they contain GM material. The United Kingdom will seek to ensure that any new rules are practical, proportionate and enforceable.

Autism

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being undertaken to investigate the effects of thiomersal in vaccines on children and links with autism.

Yvette Cooper: The Department is discussing with the Public Health Laboratory Service what suitable research in this area may be possible. The United States Centers for Disease Control have conducted two studies which have not demonstrated a causal association between autism and thiomersal (the amount of thiomersal in vaccines used in the UK childhood immunisation programme is considerably less than that used in the United States programme). A full joint statement by the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices and the US Public Health Services is available on the world wide web at http:// www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/thimerosal/joint–statement–00.htm.
	The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the Department of Health's statutory independent advisory committee, has reviewed the available evidence and has concluded that the present evidence did not support a link between thiomersal in vaccines and autism. They also concluded that there was substantial evidence that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine—which is a live attenuated vaccine and therefore has never contained thiomersal—is not a factor, but the cause of autism remains unknown. The Department has asked the Medical Research Council to review current knowledge about autism and to suggest possible areas for further research development so that a cause may be found.

Campath

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if Campath has received approval from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; what plans he has to increase its availability to NHS patients; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Alemtuzumab (Campath, Berlex Laboratories) is not currently licensed for use in the United Kingdom and has not been considered for the institute's work programme.

Neo-natal Hearing Screening

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will provide guidance to health service providers carrying out universal neo-natal hearing screening about the need to inform other statutory authorities about the detection of deafness.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 2 July 2001
	A pilot scheme to evaluate the practicalities of introducing universal neo-natal hearing screening is currently under way in 20 health authorities in England. It includes active participation of all key stakeholders including other statutory authorities. One of the aspects that the pilot scheme will examine is how to develop and recognise the role of education and social services authorities in the delivery of services for deaf and hard of hearing babies. The pilot evaluation will also inform protocols and good practice for national implementation.

Strategic Review, Newcastle

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to approve (a) the hospital regeneration project at the Royal Victoria infirmary site, Newcastle and (b) the new northern centre for cancer treatment; and what the target date for completion of each is.

John Hutton: The outline business cases for the capital schemes to complete the implementation of the Newcastle strategic review have now been approved and it is hoped that the procurement process will commence in mid July 2001.
	The provisional estimates for the new facilities being operational are late 2006 at the Royal Victoria infirmary and late 2005/early 2006 at the Freeman hospital (including the new northern centre for cancer treatment). However, more precise estimates will emerge as the procurement progresses.

Cystic Fibrosis

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will issue his response to the review carried out by the UK national screening committee into the case for introducing a national neo-natal cystic fibrosis screening programme.

Yvette Cooper: On 30 April 2001, I announced that a new national programme for neo-natal cystic fibrosis screening would be introduced. This will be subject to further advice from the United Kingdom national screening committee about feasibility, time scales and costs of a national programme, which is expected in the autumn.

Routine Screening

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to extend routine screening for middle-aged male patients; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the diseases for which routine screening would be appropriate for men aged over 50 years; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 2 July 2001
	The United Kingdom national screening committee (NSC) advises Ministers, the devolved Assemblies and the Scottish Parliament on all aspects of screening policy. The NSC assesses proposed new programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria and in forming its proposals draws on the latest research evidence. Assessing programmes in this way is intended to ensure that screening does more good than harm at a reasonable cost.
	The NHS plan announced colorectal cancer screening will be introduced should the current pilot studies demonstrate its effectiveness. It also announced that a prostate cancer screening programme will be introduced if and when screening and treatment techniques have developed sufficiently. The NSC will continue to keep all research evidence for preventing disease through screening under careful review when considering the case for recommending new programmes.

NHSnet

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when all GPs will be connected to NHSnet.

John Hutton: As stated in the Government's information management and technology strategy for the national health service, "Building the Information Core", all clinical and support staff in the NHS (including general practitioners) will be connected to NHSnet by the end of March 2002.

Independent Hospices

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional help he intends to make available for independent hospices.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 3 July 2001
	The NHS cancer plan set out our commitment to increase national health service investment in specialist palliative care by £50 million by 2004 to end inequalities in access to care and enable the NHS to make a more realistic contribution to the cost hospices incur in providing agreed levels of services.
	Cancer networks are currently developing detailed service delivery plans, which will identify current provision and set out action plans for further development across all services including palliative care. These will be completed by the autumn.

Hospital Waiting Times

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times for operations in each of the hospital trusts in England and Wales are; and what the equivalent figures were in May 1997.

John Hutton: holding answer 3 July 2001
	A table showing inpatient waiting times in national health service trusts in England has been placed in the Library. Waiting times in Wales are now a matter for the devolved Welsh Assembly.
	Data for England show that the average wait has reduced from 3.04 months at June 1997 to 2.95 months at April 2001.

Older People's Champions

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance he has issued to older people's champions on the discharge of their responsibilities under the national service framework for older people;
	(2)  what response he has made to proposals he has received from Age Concern England for a pledge to be made by older people's champions;
	(3)  what plans he has to monitor and evaluate the role of older people's champions.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 3 July 2001
	Age Concern England's "Champions Pledge" is welcomed and will help focus the thinking and development of local older people's champions.
	The National Service Framework for older people provided for the appointment of older people's champions and representation across every health and social services organisation by the end of June 2001. Once details of local appointments are collected in July 2001, and before detailing their role and responsibilities further or providing guidance, we will be seeking their views and the views of national organisations that represent older people. Age Concern England has been included in discussions around this.
	The national service framework for older people provides for a range of performance measures by which achievement of milestones and standards set will be judged. Careful consideration will be given to any identified need to monitor and evaluate the role of older people's champions once these discussions have taken place.

MS

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by the NHS on research into (a) the causes and (b) the treatment of MS in each of the last five years; what plans he has to increase this amount; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 4 July 2001
	The main Government agency for research into the causes and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The Department of Health funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in the national health service.
	The Department and MRC spend on multiple sclerosis research, which includes spend on basic work on a whole range of auto-immune disease was as follows:
	£1.86 million (estimated) in 2000–01;
	£1.425 million in 1999–2000;
	£0.77 million in 1998–99;
	£0.783 million in 1997–98;
	£0.172 million in 1996–97.
	The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for research into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands in funding.
	The Department will be considering further research requirements in this area in support of the national service framework for long-term conditions.

Care Home Costs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the costs of the first three months of a care home placement will be met; and what estimate has been made of these costs.

Jacqui Smith: Where a local authority provides a person with residential accommodation, it will assess the person's ability to reimburse the cost of the placement. The difference between the amount the person can reimburse and the cost of the care home placement will be funded by the local authority, which is in turn funded as part of the personal social services standard spending assessment to provide these services.
	From April 2001, a 12-week property disregard has been introduced, which removes the value of a person's property from the assessment for that period. The cost of the 12-week disregard is reflected in the PSS SSA.
	Those residents who are able to meet their care home fees fully through their income and other assets will do so from their own resources.

Mental Health Reform

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which parts of the White Paper on mental health reform, published in December 2000, are undergoing further review.

Jacqui Smith: As new mental health legislation is prepared further definition will be added to all parts of the framework set out in the White Paper, "Reforming the Mental Health Act".

Mental Health Reform

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to implement the proposals contained in the White Paper on mental health reform published in December 2000; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the Government's proposed timetable is for bringing forward legislation on mental health reform.

Jacqui Smith: We are committed to the reform of the Mental Health Act 1983 and will introduce new legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
	The White Paper made clear our intention to reform mental health legislation and bring it into line with the contemporary patterns of care and treatment that are being created by our investment of over £300 million in mental health services under the NHS plan.

Nursing Care (Costs)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his Department's policy to meet the full costs of nursing care for elderly people in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Health and Social Care Act makes good the pledge set out in "The NHS Plan: The Government's Response to the Royal Commission on Long Term Care" to make the NHS responsible for purchasing nursing care in nursing homes, strengthening the incentives for the NHS to ensure effective rehabilitation after acute illness of injury. If they have been assessed as needing the care of a registered nurse, people will not have to pay for the care and supervision provided by registered nurses in nursing homes, or for specialist equipment.
	Detailed draft guidance on how we plan to implement free nursing care will be issued for consultation shortly.
	Guidance on NHS and councils' responsibilities for continuing care were published on 28 June.

NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency will publish its annual business plan.

Hazel Blears: We are pleased to announce that the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency's annual business plan has been published and copies have been placed in the Library.

Royal Hospital, Haslar

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what undertaking has been given to review the decision to close the Royal Hospital, Haslar.

Hazel Blears: No undertaking has been given to review the decision to close the Royal Hospital, Haslar. The decision to close the Royal Hospital, Haslar was taken by the Ministry of Defence in 1998. Portsmouth Hospitals national health service trust took over management responsibility for clinical services provided at the hospital with effect from April 2001. The hospital will continue to treat patients until its services transfer to the planned new facilities at Queen Alexandra hospital, part of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS trust.